Ramon Crater

Ramon Crater is the largest of the Negev craters. A crater is a valley eroded  by rivers into an anticline and surrounded by steep walls of hard rocks (limestone and dolomite) at the top and friable rocks (sandstone) at the bottom. It presents a magnificent panorama and an exceptional view into geomorphologic evolution and are replete with unique geological phenomena, a wealth of minerals and a singular ecological system.

The Ramon Crater is 40 kilometers long, 2 to 10 kilometers wide and 500 m. deep. It contains  vast diversity of mountains and rocks having fantastic colors and forms. In all the it is shaped like an elongated heart. The crater is a part of the Ramon Nature reserve the largest natural reserve in Israel. The only town in the area is the small town of  Mitzpe Ramon (Ramon Observatory, in Hebrew) standing over the northern walls of the crater. The town and its extraordinary visitor centre is a must point to start the visit in the region. 

High and impressive mountains rise at the borders of the crater. Har (mountain) Ramon in the southern end, Har Ardon in the northeastern end; two beautiful table mountains - Har Marpek and Har Katom are along the southern wall.

 Points of Interest:

Ha-Minsara (Carpentry Shop Hill) is a low hill in the central part of the crater covered  with  strange-looking black prismatic rocks. A wooden trail is constructed a long side the hill, so that visitors can walk around without damaging the unique stones. At the bottom of the trail there is a big box of stones identical to the larger prisms on the hill above. They are left in the special "touching tank" for the tourists to feel their unusual form, instead of picking the real ones from the hill. Unlike most rocks in the crater, the strange rectangular pipes on the hill are made of sand, the same kind which can be found at the seashore. This is the only place in the world where one can see  prisms made of heated sand which turned into liquid. While cooling, the molten mass naturally formed rectangular and hexagonal prisms.

 

Ein( spring) Saharonim -  To the north of Ha-Minsara (Carpentry Shop Hill) is the lowest place in the crater which contains its only natural water sources. On a hill on the other side of the parking lot at Ein Saharonim stand the ruins of a large stone structure, Khan (inn)  Saharonim. In the past, about 2,000 years ago, the crater was part of the Nabatean Incense Road. Nabatean traders and their camels spent the night at the inn before continuing on to the port of Gaza. Today, the spring of  Saharonim  is visited by Asiatic wild asses (also called Onager).The wild asses  are part of  the unique  experiment made by the Natural Reserve Authorities of  Israel to populate the region with animals lived in it during biblical times. Other visitors are Nubian Ibexes (mountain goats) which often climb from the crater to the town and walk along the streets paying no attention to people.

Wadi Nikarot (Grotto Riverbed) is the crowning glory of the crater. The wadi (arid stream) starts in the northern parts of  Sinai and is 70 km long. Over the years wind and water erosion has chiseled softer parts of the rock on its banks and left rows of fascinating overhangs and crevices.

To get to the town of Mitzpe Ramon, drive by Road 40. It is some 85 km south from Beer-Sheva.

Important: The region is very hot in the summer  and very cold in the winter. The best seasons to travel in the region are autumn-beginning winter (october- middle december) and end of winter- spring (March-middle May). Troughout the year it is not advisable to travel without water beacause the region is arid( Negev desert) and empty. If on foot be dressed properly for the season. Specially be aware of sudden floods in the winter.

It is possible, today, to pass through the Ramon Crater & other desert roads with guides and vehicles. For  further information...click here