Al Wahbah crater

Al Wahbah crater is a large volcanic maar in Medina Province, Saudi Arabia, notable for its wide, bowl-shaped depression. The feature measures roughly 2 kilometres across and about 250 metres deep.

The site is dominated by the crater itself - a near-circular rim with steep walls that drop to a mostly flat, light-coloured floor where mineral salts and clays collect. Hikers commonly walk the rim and some descend to the crater floor; rim-to-floor routes are steep and can be slippery. There are no developed visitor facilities at the site.

The crater formed through volcanic or phreatomagmatic activity rather than being an impact structure; there are no recorded historical eruptions associated with it. Its form and deposits are typical of explosive interactions between magma and groundwater.

The crater sits in the arid interior of western Saudi Arabia in Medina Province at coordinates approximately 22.9 N, 41.14 E. It lies roughly 240 kilometres southeast of the city of Medina and is reached via unpaved and minor roads from regional highways.

• Viewing and access: The crater rim provides the easiest viewpoint; the descent to the floor is steep and can take 30-60 minutes depending on fitness and route.
• Best time to visit: Temperatures on the plateau can be extreme in summer, so early morning or late afternoon visits are more comfortable and safer.