HaMakhtesh HaGadol

HaMakhtesh HaGadol (המכתש הגדול , מכתש חֲתִירָה)
The Big Makhtesh
National Parks and Nature Reserve
Eastern part of Makhtesh Gadol from the air
Country Israel
District South
Municipality Israel Nature and Parks Authority
Coordinates 30°55′30″N 34°58′52″E / 30.92500°N 34.98111°E / 30.92500; 34.98111Coordinates: 30°55′30″N 34°58′52″E / 30.92500°N 34.98111°E / 30.92500; 34.98111
Length 12 km (7 mi)
Width 5 km (3 mi)
Area 60 km2 (23 sq mi)
The Matmor Formation near the northern rim of Makhtesh Gadol

HaMakhtesh HaGadol (Hebrew: הַמַּכְתֵּשׁ הַגָּדוֹל‎, lit. The Big Crater) is a makhtesh, a geological erosional landform of Israel's Negev desert. It measures 5 x 10 km.[1]

A makhtesh has steep walls of resistant rock surrounding a deep closed valley. One of five makhteshim in Israel and seven in the world, HaMakhtesh HaGadol is the second largest, being exceptional in that it is drained by one river, Nahal Hatira. Makatesh Gadol was discovered and named before Makhtesh Ramon which is the largest Makhtesh in Israel.

HaMakhtesh HaGadol is near Yeruham, Israel's first development town, established in the early days of the state. The location was chosen because the region was thought to be rich in natural resources.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Makhteshim Country and the connected Great Rift Valley Segment
  2. ↑ Livni, Shimshon (1994). Gardus, Yehuda; Shmuel, Avshalom, eds. The Land of the Negev (English title) (in Hebrew). Ministry of Defense Publishing. p. 588.

Further reading

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