Qattara Depression

Qattara Depression
Qattara Depression Location of the Qattara Depression in Egypt
Location	Egypt in the Matruh Governorate
Coordinates	30°0′N 27°30′E / 30.000°N 27.500°E / 30.000; 27.500Coordinates: 30°0′N 27°30′E / 30.000°N 27.500°E / 30.000; 27.500
Type	Endorheic basin
Primary inflows	Groundwater
Primary outflows	Evaporation
Basin countries	Egypt
Max. length	300 kilometres (190 mi)
Max. width	135 kilometres (84 mi)
Surface area	19,605 square kilometres (7,570 sq mi)
Average depth	−60 metres (−200 ft)
Max. depth	−133 metres (−436 ft)
Water volume	1,213 cubic kilometres (291 cu mi)
Settlements	Qara Oasis
References

The Qattara Depression (Arabic: منخفض القطارة‎‎ Munḫafaḍ al-Qaṭṭārah) is a depression in the north west of Egypt in the Matruh Governorate and is part of the Western Desert. It lies below sea level and is covered with salt pans, sand dunes and salt marshes. The region extends between latitudes of 28°35' and 30°25' north and longitudes of 26°20' and 29°02' east. The region was created by the interplay of salt weathering and wind erosion. Some 20 kilometres west of the depression lie the oases of Siwa and Jaghbub in smaller but similar depressions.

The Qattara Depression contains the second lowest point in Africa at an altitude of 133 metres (436 ft) below sea level, the lowest point being Lake Assal in Djibouti. The depression covers about 19,605 square kilometres (7,570 sq mi), a size comparable to Lake Ontario or twice as large as Lebanon. Due to its size and proximity to the Mediterranean Sea shore, it has been studied for its potential to generate hydroelectricity.

The depression has the shape of a teardrop, with its point facing east and the broad deep area facing the south west. The northern side of the depression is characterised by steep escarpments up to 280 meters high, marking the edge of the adjacent El Diffa plateau. To the south the depression slopes gently up to the Great Sand Sea.

Within the Depression are salt marshes, under the northwestern and northern escarpment edges, and extensive dry lake beds that flood occasionally. The marshes occupy approximately 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi), although wind-blown sands are encroaching in some areas. About a quarter of the region is occupied by dry lakes composed of hard crust and sticky mud, and occasionally filled with water.