Makhtesh Hatira ('The big Makhtesh') is actually the second biggest of the three Makhteshim of the Negev.

A Makhtesh (crater) is a rare geological phenomena, there are only 6 specements world wide, the three larger of which are located in the Negev (2 smaller in the Sinai desert). The creation of a Makhtesh takes about 100 Million years and requires particular conditions along several stages.