Makhtesh Ramon: Difference between revisions

30°34′43″N 34°49′4″E

File:Ramoncrater1.jpg

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Ramon Crater (Hebrew: מכתש רמון) is a spectacular geological feature of Israel's Negev desert. Located at the peak of Mount Negev, some 85 km south of Beersheba, the landform is not actually an impact crater from a meteor, but rather is the world's largest erosion cirque (also known as a makhtesh). It measures 40 km long and 2-10 km shaped like an elongated heart. It is part of the Ramon Nature Reserve, which includes the surrounding mountains. The only settlement in the area is the small town of Mitzpe Ramon (מצפה רמון, "Ramon Observation Point") located on the northern edge of the crater. The name Ramon comes from the Arabic word Ruman ("Romans"), and is probably linked to an ancient trading route once used by the Roman Empire.

The crater's formation began hundreds of millions years ago when the ocean that covered the Negev began to recede northward. First, there was a hump-shaped hill; water and other climatic forces slowly and steadily flattened the curve on top. Much later (only some five million years ago), the Arava Rift Valley formed and rivers changed their course. As they did so, they carved out the inside of the crater.In the desert, the main effect of water is the erosion it causes, rather than the rainfall itself, which quickly runs off. The crater bottom deepens fast while the walls retain their vertical angle, gradually increasing in height. As the crater deepened, lower and more ancient rock strata were exposed; at the bottom of Ramon Crater some rocks are as old as 200 million years.

The crater is 500m deep, and encompasses a diversity of rocks with fantastic colors and forms. Impressive mountains rise at the borders of the crater - Har Ramon (Mt. Ramon) in the southern end, Har Ardon (Mt. Ardon) in the north-eastern end, and two beautiful table mountains - Har Marpek (Mt. Marpek - "Elbow"), and Har Katum (Mt. Katum - "Chopped") are along the southern wall.

Some clay hills have striking yellow and red colors. Several hillsides in the north-eastern corner of the crater were once entirely covered by spiral ammonite fossils, ranging from the size of snails to the size of tractor wheels. However, so many souvenir hunters have collected the fossils that today only a few small ones remain.

Ein Saharonim (Saharonim Spring), to the north of ha-Minsara, is the lowest point in the crater and contains its only natural water source. On a hill within the crater, on the other side of Ein Saharonim, stand the ruins of a large prehistoric stone structure known as Khan Saharonim. Because Ramon Crater lies along the ancient Spice Trail, a trade route used by the Nabateans 2,000 years ago, the Khan Saharonim ruins served the traders and their pack animals as a way station (khan is the Arabic word for a caravansary) before proceeding further westwards to the Mediterranean seaport city of Gaza.

The Ein Saharonim springs are a vital resource for local wildlife. They are regularly visited by onagers and ibex. Ibex often climb from the crater to the nearby town of Mitzpe Ramon and walk along the bordering streets.

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  Nubian ibex in Ramon crater
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  Ramon Fault on the southern side of Makhtesh Ramon, Israel; June 2007.
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  Ramon Fault on the southern side of Makhtesh Ramon, Israel; June 2003.

References

• Mazor, Emanuel and Krasnov, Boris, editors "The Makhteshim Country - a Laboratory of Nature". Pensoft Publishers, Sofia, 2001: , ISBN: 954-642-135-9, 411 pages

External links

Ramon Crater on Google Maps