Makhtesh Ramon

Makhtesh Ramon
The "crater" is 40 km long, 2–10 km wide and 500 meters deep.
Location of Maktesh Ramon
Location	Southern, Israel
Coordinates	30°34′43″N 34°49′4″E / 30.57861°N 34.81778°E / 30.57861; 34.81778
Length	40 km (25 mi)
Width	2–10 km (1.2–6.2 mi)

Makhtesh Ramon (Hebrew: מכתש רמון; lit. Ramon Crater/Makhtesh; Arabic: وادي الرمان; lit. The Ruman Wadi) is a geological feature of Israel's Negev desert. Located some 85 km south of the city of Beersheba, the landform is the world's largest "erosion cirque" (steephead valley or box canyon). The formation is 40 km long, 2–10 km wide and 500 meters deep, and is shaped like an elongated heart. Despite its appearance it is not an impact crater from a meteor nor a volcanic crater formed by a volcanic eruption.

The only settlement in the area is the small town of Mitzpe Ramon (מצפה רמון, "Ramon Lookout") located on the northern edge of the depression. Today the area forms Israel's largest national park, the Ramon Nature Reserve.