Makhtesh HaKatan (the Small Crater) and Makhtesh HaGadol (the Large Crater) are two of the erosion cirques found nowhere else on earth except in the Negev and the Sinai. Three major makhteshim exist in the Negev (Ramon, HaGadol, and HaKatan), with two more in the Sinai. Despite their common English name, these are not impact craters. They are erosion craters, formed over millions of years as water carved through the hard outer shell of ancient mountains, hollowing out the softer rock beneath and creating enormous bowl-shaped depressions ringed by steep cliffs.
Geology
The makhteshim were formed when anticlinal ridges (dome-shaped folds in the earth’s crust) were breached by erosion. Water penetrated through cracks in the hard limestone and dolomite cap, reached the softer sandstone and marl beneath, and gradually carved out the interior. The result is a formation that looks like a volcanic crater from above but is entirely the product of water erosion. The colorful sandstone layers visible on the inner walls, ranging from deep red to yellow to purple, represent hundreds of millions of years of geological history.
Makhtesh HaKatan
The Small Crater, approximately 6 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide, is the most accessible of the makhteshim and offers some of the most dramatic color in the Negev. The inner walls display bands of colored sandstone, and the floor of the crater contains fossils, mineral deposits, and a surprising amount of desert vegetation. A hiking trail descends into the crater and follows the dry riverbed through the colorful landscape.
Makhtesh HaGadol
The Large Crater is approximately 11 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide. A road descends into the crater through the Ma’ale Akrabim (Scorpions’ Ascent), a steep switchback road that is one of the most dramatic drives in Israel. The floor of the crater contains Bedouin encampments, geological formations, and hiking trails. The view from the rim, looking down into the immense bowl of multicolored rock, is one of the great desert panoramas.
Ramon Crater
The largest and most famous of the makhteshim is the Ramon Crater (Makhtesh Ramon), which is 40 kilometers long and 500 meters deep. Together, the three craters form a geological trilogy that is unique to this region and has been proposed for UNESCO World Heritage status.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
The makhteshim are among the Negev’s most spectacular natural features. Hoshen Tours includes them in desert itineraries alongside Avdat, Sde Boker, and the Ramon Crater.