Al Wahbah crater
Encyclopedia
Harrat Kishb
Harrat Kishb is a 5,892 km2 lava field in western Saudi Arabia. Nearby is the Al Wahbah Crater.-More information:* * -References:*...
basalt plateau, which contains many volcanic cones. It is 500 m (1,640.4 ft) deep and 2 km (1.2 mi) in diameter. The bottom of the crater is covered with white sodium phosphate crystals.
While it was thought for some time that the crater was formed by a meteorite, as its appearance resembles that of the Barringer Crater, with its circular form and high sides, it is now commonly accepted by geologists that the crater is a maar crater
Maar
A maar is a broad, low-relief volcanic crater that is caused by a phreatomagmatic eruption, an explosion caused by groundwater coming into contact with hot lava or magma. A maar characteristically fills with water to form a relatively shallow crater lake. The name comes from the local Moselle...
, and was formed by volcanic activity in the form of an underground phreatic eruption
Phreatic eruption
A phreatic eruption, also called a phreatic explosion or ultravulcanian eruption, occurs when rising magma makes contact with ground or surface water. The extreme temperature of the magma causes near-instantaneous evaporation to steam, resulting in an explosion of steam, water, ash, rock, and...
- a massive steam explosion generated by molten basaltic magma
Magma
Magma is a mixture of molten rock, volatiles and solids that is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and is expected to exist on other terrestrial planets. Besides molten rock, magma may also contain suspended crystals and dissolved gas and sometimes also gas bubbles. Magma often collects in...
coming into contact with subterranean water.
The remains of date palm plantations can be found half way down the side of the crater, but they are disused. There are springs near the plantations. It's easy to climb down from the rim to the bottom of the crater there from the North side on a prepared path, although most of the circumference has steep, unclimbable cliffs. At the top of the path is a stone hut which contains rubbish and debris, and some suitable places for camping, although there are better places to camp to the South (see below).
In the north of the Waba Crater, there is some vegetation located. It takes a person about 30 minutes to go to the bottom of the crater. This crater is very slippery and it is hard for people to come up to the surface. To climb back up takes approx 40 minutes. There is only one safe route to descend. It is not recommended to climb down in groups of less than 3, as the path is quite loose in places and the risk of accident, whilst not huge, is ever present. Furthermore there is no mobile signal within the crater, and the site receives very few visitors indeed, even over weekends.
The best camping sites at the crater are on the south side just above the palm trees, which afford excellent views and where the ground is flat and secluded.
Since the year 2000 tourism has discovered the site and paved roads and signs have been placed to expedite travel. To reach the site from Jeddah take the Taif-Riyadh highway. After 161 km from Taif leave the highway at Khanfaniyah - Umm Odoom exit and turn left over the bridge (this is the second bridge after the town of Radwan). After 31 km turn left again to Umm Odoom town and after another 61 km turn right where the brown Al Waba signboard is located; the road ends at the crater's edge.
The road North to Mahd Adh Dhahab is now paved (signposted merely as Mahd, and is 90 km North of the crater), which allows much easier access to the site from Medinah, Rabigh, Yanbu, King Abdullah Economic City and KAUST, or allows visitors to do a trip north from the crater to Al-Ula or the White Volcanos, which would not have previously been feasible in a long weekend trip. To drive from King Abdullah Econoic City should take approx. 4 hours.