Makhtesh Ramon Nature Reserve

The largest Makhtesh (crater) in the Negev in the Ramon mountain range. The Makhtesh is about 40 kilometers long; its maximum width is about 10 kilometers, and its walls are 200-300 meters high. The flora in the Makhtesh is typical of the warm desert areas of the Negev, and it has many roaming animals, including ibex and various reptiles, while vultures nest on its cliffs. There are interesting sites inside the Makhtesh, such as Ha-Minsara (The Saw-Mill), a sandstone hill with a rare geological phenomenon. On top of the hill there are blocks of exposed sandstone shaped like symmetrical hexagonal pillars placed in a heap, just like wooden planks in a carpenter's shop.