Hamadas

Hamadas are desert landscapes characterized by bare, rocky surfaces where bedrock or coarse rock fragments cover most of the ground, with little to no soil or vegetation. The term comes from Arabic and is used in geomorphology to describe such rocky desert plains.

Most commonly described in the Sahara and the Arabian Desert, hamadas occur as flat to gently rolling plateaus or high plains. They contrast with dunes and sand seas (ergs) and with gravel plains (regs) by having a greater degree of rock exposure and pavement-like surfaces.

Formation involves the preferential removal of finer material by wind (and to a lesser extent water), leaving resistant bedrock and coarse debris exposed. Surface rocks are often smooth and wind-polished, and desert pavements can develop when small particles are removed and fine sediments are scarce. Hamadas are typically composed of limestone, sandstone, or volcanic rocks, though rock types vary by location.

Ecology in hamada regions is sparse; vegetation is limited to hardy lichens, mosses, or scattered grasses in protected spots, with soils that are thin and low in fertility. The harsh climate and limited resources constrain most life to small, resilient communities.

The term is also used as a surname and appears in place names across North Africa and the Middle East. In those contexts, it may reflect local landscapes or historical associations with rocky desert terrain.