Al-Bawn

Qā‘ al-Bawn
Qā‘ al-Bawn
	Qā‘ al-Bawn Location of Qā‘ al-Bawn in Yemen Qā‘ al-Bawn Qā‘ al-Bawn (Middle East) Qā‘ al-Bawn Qā‘ al-Bawn (Asia)
Floor elevation	2,205 m (7,234 ft)
Length	30 km (19 mi) SW-NE
Width	15 km (9.3 mi)
Geography
Coordinates	15°43′50″N 43°59′50″E / 15.73056°N 43.99722°E

The al-Bawn plain, or Qā‘ al-Bawn, is a plain located in north-central Yemen, in 'Amran Governorate.^[1] It is located just to the north of the Sanaa plain, with the two being separated by a rocky area formed by volcanic activity, and the high point between them being Jabal Din.^[2] Al-Bawn stretches from southwest to northeast, with the southwestern part being higher (al-Bawn al-A‘la) and the northeastern part being lower (al-Bawn al-Asfal).^[2] The main part of al-Bawn is mostly flat and under extensive cultivation.^[2] It is relatively dry, receiving on average 300-400 mm of rainfall annually.^[2] The plain is drained toward the northeast, passing through a narrow volcanic gorge toward Wadi al-Kharid and ultimately al-Jawf.^[2] The main settlements in al-Bawn are Raydah in the central part and 'Amran in the south.^[2]

The Qa‘ al-Bawn is traditionally divided into two parts: the greater Bawn, or al-Bawn al-Kabir, forms most of it, while the lesser Bawn, or al-Bawn al-Saghir, is the smaller area at the southern end of the plain, west of 'Amran.^[2] To the northwest, the plain around Hamidah (Qa‘ Hamidah) is also sometimes counted as part of the Qa‘ al-Bawn, under the name al-Bawn al-Dakhili.^[2] The southwestern part of the Qa‘ al-Bawn rises gradually towards the foot of Masani‘, a plateau with steep sides.^[2] On the north, the plain borders the al-Zahir plateau, and to the west is the plateau of Jabal Iyal Yazid, which is part of the same formation as al-Zahir.^[2] To the east is the upland tribal area of Arhab.^[2]