Waw an Namus
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| Waw an Namus | |
|---|---|
 Waw An Namus, viewed from the Space Shuttle, 25 October 1992 |
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| Elevation | 547 metres (1,795 feet) |
| Location | Libya |
| Coordinates | 24°54′N 17°45′E / 24.9°N 17.75°E |
| Type | Caldera and volcanic field |
| Last eruption | Unknown |
Waw an Namus (also spelled Wau-en-Namus, Arabic: واو الناموس - Oasis of Mosquitoes) is a volcanic field, cone and caldera in the southern region of Libya, in the near-geographic center of the Sahara Desert. The inside of the caldera houses rich foliage and three small salt lakes of variable color which are the reason for the volcano's name. A detailed biodiversity survey in 2008 cataloged over 16 new mosquito species and a previously unnoticed species of nocturnal desert mouse. An apron of dark basaltic tephra extends 10-20 km around the caldera. Its vast size allows it to be easily seen from space. Waw an Namus is an increasingly popular local tourist attraction.
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