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Saudi Arabia's Waba Crater Recognized Among World's Top 100 Geological Landmarks

The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) announced the selection and nomination of the Waba Crater as one of the top 100 geological heritage sites in the world for 2024. (SPA)
The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) announced the selection and nomination of the Waba Crater as one of the top 100 geological heritage sites in the world for 2024. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia's Waba Crater Recognized Among World's Top 100 Geological Landmarks

The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) announced the selection and nomination of the Waba Crater as one of the top 100 geological heritage sites in the world for 2024. (SPA)
The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) announced the selection and nomination of the Waba Crater as one of the top 100 geological heritage sites in the world for 2024. (SPA)

The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) announced on Wednesday the selection and nomination of the Waba Crater as one of the top 100 geological heritage sites in the world for 2024.

This distinction was bestowed by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Also known as the Tamiya Quarry, or scientifically as the Al-Mar Volcano, the crater is located in Hurrat Khishb, about 270 km northeast of Jeddah,

SGS official spokesperson Tariq Abaalkhail said the selection came after an evaluation by a committee of 89 global experts, where the crater was chosen from among 174 nominated sites submitted by 64 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United States, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, China, Iceland, Egypt, and Finland, among others.

The Waba Crater is considered one of the largest and most magnificent volcanic craters in the world and one of the largest dry Al-Mar volcanoes globally, Abaalkhail added.

It is part of a monogenetic volcanic field that includes 175 small volcanoes, with ages ranging from 2 million to a few hundred thousand years, covering an area of approximately 6,000 square kilometers.

The crater itself was formed about 1.1 million years ago, with a depth of around 250 meters and a diameter of 2.3 kilometers, which is about three times the average diameter of other volcanoes, he explained. It also contains a saline basin or shallow lake formed due to the accumulation of rainwater.

The Waba Crater, along with the other selected geological sites worldwide, is an inspiring destination that contributes to the promotion of geological tourism and the development of geological sciences, providing unique opportunities to disseminate knowledge in the field of earth sciences, he remarked.

 

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Indonesia's Mount Ibu Erupts More than 1,000 Times this Month

Mount Ibu, on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, has erupted more than a thousand times this month. AZZAM / AFP/File
Mount Ibu, on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, has erupted more than a thousand times this month. AZZAM / AFP/File
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Indonesia's Mount Ibu Erupts More than 1,000 Times this Month

Mount Ibu, on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, has erupted more than a thousand times this month. AZZAM / AFP/File
Mount Ibu, on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, has erupted more than a thousand times this month. AZZAM / AFP/File

A volcano in eastern Indonesia has erupted at least a thousand times this month, according to an official report Sunday as efforts were underway to evacuate thousands of villagers living near the rumbling mountain.

Mount Ibu, on the remote island of Halmahera in North Maluku province, sent a column of smoke up to four kilometers (2.5 miles) into the sky in an eruption on Wednesday, AFP said.

Indonesian officials raised its alert status to the highest level and called for the evacuation of 3,000 people living in six nearby villages.

It was one of 1,079 eruptions by the volcano recorded since January 1 by Indonesia's Geological Agency, sending columns of ash reaching between 0.3 and 4 kilometers above its peak, according to the agency's data gathered by AFP.

The latest big eruption occurred on Sunday at 1:15 am local time as it spewed a towering cloud of ash 1.5 kilometers into the air.

"The ash was grey, with moderate to thick intensity, drifting southwest. A loud rumbling sound was heard all the way to Mount Ibu Observation Post," the agency said in a statement.

It added that the volcano had erupted 17 times on Sunday alone.

Despite deciding to evacuate affected villagers, local authorities had only managed to evacuate 517 residents as of Sunday, pledging to persuade those who remained to stay in safe shelters.

Many have refused to evacuate, arguing that they were used to the situation and were in harvest season.

"There might be economic considerations, as many residents are in the middle of harvesting crops. However, we will continue to educate the community and encourage them to evacuate," said Adietya Yuni Nurtono, Ternate district military commander in charge of a safe shelter.

Mount Ibu, one of Indonesia's most active volcanos, has shown a significant increase in activity since last June.

Residents living near Mount Ibu and tourists have been advised to avoid a five- to six-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano's peak and to wear face masks in case of falling ash.

As of 2022, around 700,000 people were living on Halmahera island, according to official data.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity as it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Last November, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,703-meter (5,587-foot) twin-peaked volcano on the tourist island of Flores erupted more than a dozen times in one week, killing nine people in its initial explosion.

Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi province erupted more than half a dozen times last year, forcing thousands from nearby islands to evacuate.