For tourists, Mitzpe Ramon is less notable as a town and more as a crater—more specifically, Ramon Crater (Makhtesh Ramon), the largest crater in the world. It is 40km long, 9km wide, and 400m deep and is punctuated by bizarre mushroom-shaped mounds, clay hills of fantastic reds and yellows, and rainbow sands. Basically, it looks like a chunk of Mars grafted onto the planet. The stark desert landscape, home to four different climate zones, also hides rock formations that are millions of years old and like nothing else in the world. It may look barren, but as you try one of the many hikes in and around the crater, you will discover a world of life, from desert springs to stalking scorpions.

And, though it is still in an embryonic stage, the town is also growing to accommodate the increase in tourism that is making it a worthy destination in its own right. The industrial zone, long a failed commercial venture, is becoming a neighborhood more and more crowded with small shops and art spaces. A gigantic bocce ball court is under construction; a French restaurant (run by actual French people!) opened recently; and development is evident wherever you walk.