Salma Geopark is located 80 km southeast of Hail and 112 km north of Breda, covering an area of 3,145 km². The Salma Mountains, a major tourist attraction in Hail, spread over more than 60 km². The highest peak reaches 1,380 meters above sea level. Key sites within the park include the medieval city of Faid and the historic Darb Zubaydah route. The area is also dotted with water sources, farms, and volcanic craters, making it a fascinating destination for visitors. The park stretches from north to south and east to west, covering a wide area between the coordinates 27° 05'17' N and 42° 18'26'E.

How tall is

Salma Mountain?

The height of Salma Mountain is 1,380 meters, making it four times taller than the French Eiffel Tower and almost a third of Jabal Al-Sawda's height (Saudi Arabia's highest mountain peak). The geological tapestry woven within Salma Geopark is nothing short of extraordinary. At the heart of this captivating landscape lies the iconic Salma Mountain, a treasure trove of over 30 distinct geological formations. These rocky outcrops, each possessing a unique shape and composition, contribute to the rich mosaic that defines this geological wonderland.

Geological stages of

Salma Unesco GEOPARK

The geological map provides a comprehensive overview to identify heritage precincts within the boundaries of the aspiring Salma UNESCO Global Geopark.

The light blue and deep blue regions correspond to the ancient rocks of the Arabian Shield and are primarily linked to Precinct 1.
The pink region, associated with batholiths, dates back to a period earlier than the formation of the Salma mega-caldera.
The yellow regions and blue dotted areas are related to caldera subsidence (intra-caldera welded ash flows) and lava dome resurgence, respectively.
Ring dykes, appearing as narrow bands in dark salmon color, indicate intrusive processes along the caldera margins throughout its evolution. In the southern part of the region, ring structures of the same age are associated with other mega-calderas, most of which are buried today. These rocks belong to Precinct 2.
The yellow patterned zone in the northeast represents the siliciclastic and volcaniclastic successions of the Arabian Platform, dating from the Paleocene to the Early Mesozoic (the story of the Tethyan passive margin), and is part of Precinct 3.
The Harrat Hutaymah volcanic field (black to grey) is part of Precinct 4.
Precinct 5, with no specific sites assigned, represents the Quaternary desert landscape, marked by light yellow fields.

This division reflects the unique geological diversity and natural heritage of the Salma Geopark.

Abal Salma offers a typical geomorphological view of old silicic crystalline rocks forming the co-genetic batholith complex within mega-calderas, such as the Salma Caldera, which collapsed into the landscape. The arid climate and weathering processes make the landscape even more dramatic and aesthetically pleasing, adding significant value to its geoheritage.

An ancient adobe clay brick building on the southern edge of the aspiring Salma UNESCO Global Geopark highlights the region's rich geocultural elements. This area's crystalline basement of complex felsic rocks provides a dramatic and unique landscape, combining geological significance with cultural heritage.

A remarkable image shows the light-colored older Arabian Shield lower crustal granitoid rocks intruded by a younger ring dyke from an older caldera that predates the Salma Caldera, visible in the background range.