The Qattara Depression
The Qattara Depression is a depression in northwestern Egypt. 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.
The Qattara Depression was created by the interplay of salt weathering and wind erosion. Some 20 kilometres west of the depression lie the oases of Siwa Oasis in Egypt and Jaghbub Oasis in Libya 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 and covers about 19,605 square kilometres (7,570 sq mi), a size comparable with Lake Ontario or twice as large as Lebanon.
There are a number of interesting and powerful sites in this area and any number of dangers. A few oasis such as Siwa Oasis are here.
