El Elegante Crater, Volcanic crater in Sonora, Mexico.

El Elegante is a maar in the Gran Desierto de Altar, part of the Pinacate Peaks volcanic complex in Sonora. It measures 1.5 kilometres across and 250 metres deep, the largest crater of the group. Its rim rises above the surrounding desert floor and exposes layers of rock built up from ejected material.

El Elegante formed about 32,000 years ago when groundwater met rising magma, which flashed to steam and triggered a phreatomagmatic explosion. The blast threw out rock, ash and magmatic material that fell across the desert floor up to 30 km away. The ejected layers built the rim higher than the surrounding desert, and the cone later collapsed to leave the crater.

The crater lies in the El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012. It is the most visited crater in the reserve, which functions as a natural park. Its name, Spanish for "the elegant one", refers to the shape of its rim.

You should prepare for harsh desert conditions by bringing plenty of water, sun protection, and sturdy footwear for exploring the site. The remote location requires planning ahead and checking local conditions before visiting.

The crater rim rises above the surrounding desert floor and exposes layers of rock built up from ejected material. During the pluvial period before the last altithermal, the basin held a lake. Ejecta from the eruption reached about 30 kilometres from the crater.