The Small Makhtesh

Last Shabbat (the 27th of October) we took a trip to the Small Makhtesh ("crater").

There are at least three of these in the Negev Desert. The other two are known as the Big Makhtesh and Makhtesh Ramon. The last is actually the biggest, but it was discovered later due to its remoteness. There are also now paved roads through the Big Makhtesh and Makhtesh Ramon. In fact, highway 40, the main highway through the Negev, passes dramatically down from Mitzpe Ramon and goes right through Makhtesh Ramon. The road through the Big Makhtesh is much less important, but it is still paved.

But these is no read at all through the Small Makhtesh. In fact, we had to drive about a kilometer or so on a rocky unpaved road just to get to the parking area. Then I walked another kilometer or two to get to where I could see the Small Makhtesh. But the view, as you can see here, is pretty dramatic. These pictures were all taken from the viewpoint. This first one is looking toward the north end of the crater.

This second picture is looking directly across the crater and shows the interesting and varied patches of color on its floor. The gap at the right of this picture is where the Makhtesh drains toward the Arava and then the Dead Sea. In the distance, you can see the mountains of Jordan on the other side of the Arava.

This picture is looking slightly further to the right from the one above. Now the drainage gap is just right of the center of the picture.

Turning further still to the right, we see the southern wall of the makhtesh. The viewpoint is actually NOT right at the edge of the crater but on a hill somewhat above it and set back a little. The edge in the foreground at the left of this picture is really not that far away. Again, you can see the mountains of Jordan in the background.

This picture is looking still further to the right and barely overlaps with the one above. We really can't see any of the makhtesh at all in this view. What we do see is another stream that barely misses the crater but instead flows down a completely different valley toward the Arava.