Volcanism is distributed asymmetrically with respect to the Red Sea. Large areas are covered with basalt on the Saudi Arabian Plate. No volcanism has occurred at similar latitudes on the African Plate. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey. Volcanic vents of the Harrat Hutaymah volcanic province.
Numbers indicate locations mentioned in the text.
Utaynah Jabal Awared Shurmah cone Jabal al Misharikah Jabal Duwayrah Arabian geologists call alkali basalt fields harrats. Numerous harrats are aligned along the west margin of the Saudi Arabian Plate subparallel to the Red Sea. Harrat Hutaymah is less than 2 million years old, making it one of the youngest volcanic fields in Saudi Arabia. It is also one of the most distant volcanic fields from the Red Sea. However, Harrat Hutaymah is relatively small compared to other harrats in Saudi Arabia.