The Negev Desert in southern Israel contains the Ramon Crater, the world’s largest erosion cirque.
The Negev occupies roughly 13,000 square kilometres and forms a triangular region between the Sinai Peninsula, the Arava Valley, and the Mediterranean coastal plain. Its name comes from a Hebrew root meaning “dry.” Although arid, the Negev is not completely lifeless: seasonal streams, springs, and underground water support plants, animals, and human settlements.
Ramon Crater, or Makhtesh Ramon, is a distinctive landform within the Negev. Unlike an impact crater, it was carved by erosion over millions of years as softer rock layers wore away and drainage systems deepened the basin. The crater is about 40 kilometres long and reaches approximately 9 kilometres wide.
The Negev is sometimes confused with the nearby Judean Desert, which lies mainly east of Jerusalem and descends toward the Dead Sea. The Negev is also distinct from the Sinai Desert across Israel’s southwestern border. Beersheba is the region’s largest city, while Mitzpe Ramon is a major gateway to the crater.