Makhtesh Ramon

Lore & Background

Hundreds of millions of years ago, the Negev was covered by the Tethys ocean. As the ocean receded northward, it left a hump-shaped hill that was flattened by water and climate. Around 5 million years ago, the Arava Rift Valley formed, causing rivers to change course and carve out the softer rock inside the crater, deepening it faster than the surrounding walls. Today, the crater is 500 meters deep, with rocks at the bottom up to 200 million years old. The only natural water source is Ein Saharonim spring, which supports wildlife including onagers and ibex.

Reader's Guide

Makhtesh Ramon is significant as the world's largest erosion cirque, offering a unique window into geological history. Its formation reveals layers of ancient rock, including clay hills with red and yellow colors, and features such as Har Ramon, Har Ardon, and two table mountains. The site includes Giv'at Ga'ash, a former volcano that erupted thousands of years ago, leaving basalt; Shen Ramon, a magma rock that hardened underground; and HaMinsara, a hill of columnar jointed sandstone. The area also holds paleontological interest, with spiral ammonite fossils once abundant on the northeastern edge. Historically, the makhtesh lies along the ancient Incense Route, with ruins of Khan Saharonim, a Nabataean way station, and Metzad Mahmal, a stronghold used by Nabataeans and Romans, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The reintroduction of Asiatic wild asses and Arabian oryx highlights ongoing conservation efforts.

Did You Know?

• Makhtesh Ramon is not a meteor impact crater or volcanic crater, but an erosion cirque.
• The deepest point is Ein Saharonim spring, the sole natural water source in the crater.
• Giv'at Ga'ash is a black hill that was an active volcano thousands of years ago.
• The pteriidan bivalve family Ramonalinidae is found in early Middle Triassic rocks here and named after this feature.