Editing Qattara Depression (section)

{{Short description|Depression in the Western Desert of Egypt}}
{{Other uses|Qattara (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name          = Qattara Depression
| image         =
| location           = [[Egypt]] in the [[Matruh Governorate]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|30|0|N|27|30|E|region:EG-MT|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map        = Egypt
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the Qattara Depression in Egypt
| type               = [[Endorheic basin]]
| inflow             = ''Groundwater''
| outflow            = ''Evaporation''
| basin_countries    = Egypt
| length              = {{convert|300|km|mi}}
| width              = {{convert|135|km|mi}}
| area               = {{convert|19605|km2|sqmi}}
| depth              = {{convert|-60|m|ft}}
| max-depth          = {{convert|-133|m|ft}}
| volume             = {{convert|1213|km3|cumi}}
| cities             = [[Qara Oasis]]
| reference          = <ref name=Jarvis>Dr. Andrew, J. 2007. [http://ragabr.googlepages.com/Qattara_Deression_Report.pdf ''Report on the Qattara Depression'' ]{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} CIAT Land Use project</ref><ref name=Ball1933>{{cite journal |last1=Ball |first1=John |title=The Qattara Depression of the Libyan Desert and the Possibility of Its Utilization for Power-Production |journal=The Geographical Journal |date=1933 |volume=82 |issue=4 |pages=289–314 |doi=10.2307/1785898 |jstor=1785898 }}</ref>
}}

The '''Qattara Depression''' ({{langx|ar|منخفض القطارة|Munḫafaḍ al-Qaṭṭārah}}) is a [[depression (geology)|depression]] in northwestern [[Egypt]], specifically in the [[Matruh Governorate]]. The depression is part of the [[Western Desert (Egypt)|Western Desert of Egypt]]. 
The Qattara Depression lies below sea level, and its bottom is covered with [[salt pan (geology)|salt pans]], [[sand dunes]], and [[Inland salt marsh|salt marsh]]es. The depression extends between the latitudes of 28°35' and 30°25' north and the longitudes of 26°20' and 29°02' east.<ref name="El Bassyony">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)</ref>

The Qattara Depression was created by the interplay of salt weathering and wind erosion. Some {{convert|20|km|mi|sigfig=1}} west of the depression lie the oases of [[Siwa Oasis|Siwa in Egypt]] and [[Jaghbub, Libya|Jaghbub in Libya]] in smaller but similar depressions.

The Qattara Depression contains the second lowest point in Africa at an elevation of {{convert|133|m|ft}} below sea level, the lowest point being [[Lake Assal (Djibouti)|Lake Assal]] in Djibouti. The depression covers about {{convert|19605|km2|sqmi}}, 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.