Al-Waba Crater

The sprawling crater of Al-Wahbah volcano is considered one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It consists of a vast crater in the heart of which lies a mysterious lake. Its width is 4 kilometers and its depth is 250 meters. It is located on the western edge of the basaltic Hafar Kishb plateau, about 250 km north of Taif. It offers amazing lunar landscapes with great views of the desert from the crater rim. But as much as the crater offers great views from above, the real magic lies in climbing into its heart. In the center of the crater, you'll find white sodium phosphate crystals that form a shiny shell visible from the sky. This layer of salt turns into a pearly lake whenever the rain collects in the hollow, surrounded by shrubs and palm trees that dot the edge of the crater.