| 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 |
| 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 | [1][2] |
The Qattara Depression (Arabic: منخفض القطارة, romanized: Munḫafaḍ al-Qaṭṭārah) is a depression in northwestern Egypt, specifically in the Matruh Governorate. The depression is part of the Western Desert of Egypt. The Qattara Depression lies below sea level, and its bottom is covered with salt pans, sand dunes, and salt marshes. The depression extends between the latitudes of 28°35' and 30°25' north and the longitudes of 26°20' and 29°02' east.[3]
The Qattara Depression was created by the interplay of salt weathering and wind erosion. Some 20 kilometres (10 mi) west of the depression lie the oases of Siwa in Egypt and Jaghbub in Libya in smaller but similar depressions.
The Qattara Depression contains the second lowest point in Africa at an elevation 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 with Lake Ontario or twice as large as Lebanon. Due to its size and proximity to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, studies have been made proposing to flood the area for various usages, such as the potential to generate hydroelectricity there.
- ^ Dr. Andrew, J. 2007. Report on the Qattara Depression [permanent dead link] CIAT Land Use project
- ^ Ball, John (1933). "The Qattara Depression of the Libyan Desert and the Possibility of Its Utilization for Power-Production". The Geographical Journal. 82 (4): 289–314. doi:10.2307/1785898. JSTOR 1785898.
- ^ El Bassyony, Abdou. 1995. "Introduction to the geology of the Qattara Depression," International Conference on the Studies and Achievements of Geosciences in Egypt, 69 (85-eoa)