Saudi Arabia's Al Waba crater becomes one of the world's top 100 geological heritage sites in 2024

Al Waba crater is located in Hurrat Khishb, about 270 kilometres northeast of Jeddah. It was selected as one of the world's top 100 geological heritage sites out of 174 sites submitted by 64 countries, following an evaluation by a panel of 89 experts. This is reported by Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Al Waba crater is considered one of the largest and most impressive volcanic craters in the world. It was formed by a volcanic eruption about 1.1 million years ago. It is 250 meters deep and 2.3 kilometres in diameter, making it three times the average size of other volcanoes.

Al Waba crater is part of a monogenetic volcanic field that includes 175 small volcanoes ranging in age from 2 million to several hundred thousand years old. Inside the crater there is also a saline basin formed by the accumulation of rainwater.

The selection of Waba Crater as a geological heritage site contributes to the development of geological tourism, the popularisation of geological sciences, and the dissemination of knowledge about the Earth.

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