Rift
The rifts or time rifts were fractures in the planar fabric of Dominaria and to a lesser extent other planes. In the greater scheme of things the rifts resulted from the imbalance between the primal forces of the Multiverse and the power of godlike planeswalkers.
They were each caused by some catastrophe, and in almost every case a planeswalker was involved. Some time after Karona's destruction the rifts that accumulated over Dominaria's history proved too much {—} the damage to the plane was too severe to allow for self-repair.
While each rift had a unique "personality" linked to the circumstances of its creation, they all had some common properties: They cut off the plane from its mana and caused anomalies in space and time. They also influenced each other, and with each additional rift the others grew.
Major rifts
Prior to the Mending there were eight major rifts in existence (though numerous smaller ones sprung up across Dominaria). Here they are presented in the chronological order of their creation:
Madaran rift
More than twenty thousand years before the events of the rift crisis, the first battle between planeswalkers on Dominaria took place in Madara. It was a fight to death between the elder dragon Nicol Bolas and a unknown demonic Leviathan. Their battle destroyed one third of the continent and caused the first damage to the plane. The rift was located at the Talon Gates, a remnant of that conflict.
The rift was closed second to last by Nicol Bolas, using Leshrac, killing the Nightwalker in the process.
Yavimayan rift
Urza's Sylex Blast changed the face of the world, brought on the Ice Age, and led to the formation of the Shard. In addition to these visible effects the plane itself was damaged, resulting in Yavimaya's rift. When the rifts worsened, the sentient forest tried to heal the damage, without success.
Under the influence of Leshrac, Jeska used Radha to seal the rift, causing the warrior to lose her potential to become a planeswalker.
Tolarian rift
In contrast to the other rifts, the Tolarian rift was felt immediately after it came into being. Urza's failed time travel experiment caused temporal disruptions throughout the isle Template:— there were bubbles in which time flowed much faster or much slower. During the Phyrexian Invasion of Dominaria, Barrin obliterated the whole island, worsening the damage beyond repair. Fortunately, Karn was able to travel back in time and mend the rift just before Barrin cast his spell.
Shivan rift
At the beginning of the Invasion Teferi phased out a part of Shiv and Zhalfir, leaving a hole in Dominaria. When the time came for Shiv to return he realized that it would not fit. Teferi was successfully healed the damage, losing his spark in the process. Closing the first rift allowed Shiv to phase back in.
Zhalfiran rift
Zhalfir was phased out along with Shiv. Under the influence of Leshrac, Jeska used Radha to seal the Zhalfiran rift. Zhalfir was not able to phase back in, however, and Teferi remarked that it was lost.
Urborg rift
The rift at Urborg did not involve any planeswalker, but was instead a side effect of the Rathi Overlay with the arrival of Volrath's Stronghold. Phyrexians from an alternate timeline in which the Ice Age never ended were coming through it. Eventually Lord Windgrace realized what he had to do and gave up his life to heal the rift, making it the third to be closed.
Skyshroud rift
To protect Skyshroud Forest, Freyalise relocated it when the Rathi Overlay began. Similar to the rift in Urborg, it was linked to an alternate timeline in which the Phyrexian Invasion was successful. Freyalise gave her life to seal the rift, and save for a single tree the whole forest died with her. It was the second rift to be sealed.
Otarian rift
The last major rift to come into existence was created when Karona, the incarnation of Dominarian magic, was destroyed. Because of Karona's nature Otaria's rift was diffuse, widespread, and the most difficult to seal. Only with the help of Venser and Radha, and her own sacrifice, could Jeska close the it.
With the last major rift sealed, the Great Mending began.