Great Glen Fault - Definition and Overview

The Great Glen Fault is a long strike-slip fault that runs through its namesake the Great Glen (Glen Albyn) in Scotland. However, the fault is actually much longer and over 200 millions years old.

Aligned northeast to southwest, the Great Glen Fault extends further southwest in a straight line, into northwestern Ireland, directly through Lough Foyle, Donegal Bay and Clew Bay. The fault continues on the North American side of the North Atlantic Ocean, but is no longer part of a contiguous fault, as the complete fault was broken when the Mid-Atlantic Ridge formed 200 million years ago. The North American side of the fault runs through the length of northwestern Newfoundland and into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The northwestern side of the Great Glen Fault moved towards the northeast, while the southeastern side of the fault moved towards the southwest.

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