Baringo County is essentially two valleys (aligned N –S) separated by a spine of high hills. The valleys are at an altitude of about 1000 m metres and the highlands range from 2000 to 2700 m. The western valley is the Kerio Valley, which Baringo shares with Elgeyo Marakwet County. The Kerio river is the dividing line and the western border of Baringo County. The eastern valley is Baringo Valley and the eastern border is the eastern wall of the valley, the Laikipia escarpment. The valley is notable for its two lakes; lakes Baringo and Bogoria, which are only x km apart but so different in character.
The highland spine is the Tugen Hills, uplifted by volcanic forces that sent flows of basaltic lava, east and west, down the flanks of the rising dome. Subsequent tectonic upheavals compressed and twisted the hills as they formed. The violence of these ancient forces is, today, clearly evident in the contorted strata of many exposed rocks and the serpentine height-contours shown on a physical map of the area. In this region of the North Rift Valley, the centre of spreading of the Rift (as 2 tectonic plates pull apart) is located along a line through the Baringo Valley.  This line links places of geothermal activity, such as:

1. In the north, the hot water spring which emanates from the side of the huge Silali volcanic crater and is the source of the Suguta River;
2. In the middle, the numerous steam vents  around Paka volcanic crater, currently in the process of being exploited for electricity generation;
3. In the south, the geysers that erupt from the bottom of Lake Bogoria.

Unfortunately, in recent years, the unexplained rising water levels in all the Rift Valley lakes has altered their size, shape and character —- with devastating consequences to businesses such as fishing and tourism. The famous, spectacular geysers of Bogoria are now submerged.