View source for Makhtesh

{{Short description|Landform of the Negev desert and Sinai peninsula}}
[[File:MakhteshRamonMar262022 01.jpg|thumb|View of [[Makhtesh Ramon]], the largest of Israel's five makhteshes]]
[[File:Makhtesh Gadol's southern "Ribs".jpg|thumb|Makhtesh Gadol's southern "Ribs"]]
[[File:Har 'Arif Makhtesh 041014.jpg|thumb|The larger Arif makhtesh]]
A '''makhtesh''' ({{langx|he|מַכְתֵּשׁ}} ({{IPA|he|maχˈteʃ|}}), Hebrew plural: {{Script/Hebrew|מַכְתְּשִׁים|}} ({{IPA|he|ˌmaχteˈʃim|}} – ''Makhteshim'') is a geological landform found in the [[Negev]] desert of Israel and the [[Sinai Peninsula]] of Egypt. A makhtesh has steep walls of resistant rock surrounding a deep closed valley, which is usually drained by a single [[wadi]]. The valleys have limited vegetation and soil, containing a variety of different colored rocks and diverse [[Wildlife of Israel|fauna and flora]]. The best known and largest makhtesh is [[Makhtesh Ramon]].

==Etymology==
Although commonly referred to as "[[Crater|craters]]", these formations are "erosion cirques" ([[steephead valley]]s or [[Canyon#Box_canyon|box canyons]]). Craters are formed by the [[Impact crater|impact of a meteor]] or [[volcanic crater|volcanic]] eruption, whereas makhteshim are created by [[erosion]].<ref>[http://www.bgu.ac.il/desert_ecology/ramon/Krasnov/Krasnovetal96JAridEnviron.pdf Desert ecology: Naming]{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}.</ref> 

The word '''makhtesh''' is the Hebrew word for a [[Mortar and pestle|mortar grinder]] ({{Script/Hebrew|מַכְתֵּשׁ}}).<ref>[http://www.safa-ivrit.org/milon/מכתש Safa-Ivrit Hebrew Dictionary: {{Script/Hebrew|מכתש}}] ''(Hebrew)''.</ref> The geological landform was given this name because of its similarity to a grinding bowl.

==Geology==
[[Image:SmallCrater02 ST 08.JPG|thumb|150px|The outer wall of Makhtesh Katan]]

Where a hard outer layer of rock covers softer rocks, erosion removes the softer minerals relatively quickly, and they are washed away from under the harder rock. The harder rocks eventually collapse under their own weight, and a crater-like valley structure is formed. In Negev and Sinai makhteshes, the hard rocks are [[limestone]] and [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]]s, while the inner softer rocks are [[chalk]] or [[sandstone]].<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Archive/Communiques/1997/ERETZ+HAMAKHTESHIM-+NATURE+CONSERVATION+AND+DESERT.htm?DisplayMode=print Conservation and the Desert: Rock types].</ref> 

The center of the Negev is dominated by northeast-southwest anticlinal ridges. The crests of four ridges host five deep valleys surrounded by steep walls. The upper half consists of hard limestone and dolomite, and the bottom is [[Friability|friable]] sandstone. Each valley, known as a makhtesh, is drained by a narrow river bed.<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1486/ ''Makhteshim Country''] at UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Submitted by Israel, 30/9/2001. Re-accessed 12/3/2023.</ref>

===Negev===
The Negev has five makhteshes: Makhtesh Ramon, Makhtesh Gadol, Makhtesh Katan, and two small makhteshes on [[Mount Arif]]<!-- not to be confused with Mount Harif -->, south of Makhtesh Ramon.

* [[Makhtesh Ramon]] is exceptional as it is drained by two rivers (Nahal Ramon and Nahal Ardon). It is the largest makhtesh at over 40&nbsp;km long, 2–10&nbsp;km wide and over 500&nbsp;m deep. The rocks in this makhtesh contain thousands of [[Ammonoidea|ammonite]] fossils, as well as volcanic and [[metamorphic]] rocks.
* [[Makhtesh Gadol]] (''Large Makhtesh''). At the time of naming, Makhtesh Ramon was uncharted, and so this was thought to be the largest makhtesh, at 10&nbsp;km by 5&nbsp;km.
* [[Makhtesh Katan]] (''Small Makhtesh'') is the smallest major makhtesh at 7&nbsp;km by 5&nbsp;km and was charted in 1942 by Jewish explorers.
[[Image:SmallCrater04 ST 08.JPG|thumb|center|500px|Makhtesh Katan]]

===Sinai===
The two makhteshes in Sinai, Egypt, have no names for the basin, but their walls have several names including ''Jabal al-Manzur'' or ''Gebel Maghara''.{{fact|date=December 2011}}

===Jordan===
Several similar geological formations are also found in Wadi Rum in southern Jordan.{{fact|date=July 2019}}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
File:SmallCrater01 ST 08.JPG|The walls of Makhtesh Katan (the Small Makhtesh)
File:SmallCrater05 ST 08.JPG|Colorful sandstone in Makhtesh Katan
Image:SmallCrater03 ST 08.JPG|Makhtesh Katan
Image:SmallCrater06 ST 08.JPG|Colorful sandstone in the Small Makhtesh
Image:MakhteshGadolAcacia.jpg|[[Acacia_(Vachellia)|Acacia tree]] inside Makhtesh Gadol
Image:MakhteshGadolMist.jpg|Mist flowing over the northern rim of Makhtesh Gadol
Image:RamonFault.jpg|Ramon Monocline on the southern side of Makhtesh Ramon
Image:RamonFault1.JPG|Ramon Fault on the southern side of Makhtesh Ramon
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons}}

* Mazor, Emanuel and Krasnov, Boris, editors "The Makhteshim Country - a Laboratory of Nature". Pensoft Publishers, Sofia, 2001, 411 pages. {{ISBN|978-954-642-135-7}}

{{Nature reserves of Israel}}

[[Category:Erosion landforms]]
[[Category:Landforms of Israel]]
[[Category:Nature reserves in Israel]]
[[Category:Geography of Southern District (Israel)]]