Makhtesh Ramon

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Makhtesh Ramon is the biggest of its kind in the world, and it is located in Negev, Israel. On the edge of the makhtesh lies the city of Mitzpe Ramon.

The Creation of the Makhtesh

In the past the area included lakes, rivers and plants. in that area, sandstones (a relatively soft land-rock) sank to the land. later on, the area was covered with water, which were filled with creatures whose skeletons contain lime. these creatures sank to the bottom of the ocean, and on the soft sandstone hard layers of lime (a relativey hard sea-rock) was created. 80-90 million years ago, magmatic forces started to appear in the area. 30 million years ago, the ocean started to retreat - the rocks were exposed to a hard environment. the soft sandstone started to wear off while the hard lime still stood.

There is a reason for the rarity of the phenomenon - there needs to be a combination of factors for a Makhtesh to be created: an a-simmetric creat; rock layers who are not homogenicly hard, the hard ones are on top of the soft ones; a low base who makes the strean who takes the inner part of the Makhtesh going faster; a desert climate who keeps the Makhtesh's walls of wearing off.

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