The Hottest Places on Earth

From the bone-chilling subzero climates of the Arctic Circle and Antarctica to the scorching deserts of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, Earth is home to vast temperature extremes. If you’re looking for a summer vacation destination, you’ll probably consider temperatures in the 80s and 90s idyllic. However, there are places where the daily highs regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Read on to discover the seven hottest places on Earth, according to the BBC’s Science Focus.

Furnace Creek – Death Valley, California

On July 10, 1913, the planet set a new temperature record at Furnace Creek in California’s Death Valley National Park. The mercury that day topped out at 134 degrees Fahrenheit, a record that has yet to be broken. But that was only the air temperature: In July 1972, the ground temperature here reached an incredible 201 degrees. Though Furnace Creek — a unique, perennial desert stream — is notorious for its inhospitable climates, it’s surprisingly rich in wildlife. The endangered willow flycatcher, Panamint alligator lizard, and Mono Basin sage grouse all call it home. The Furnace Creek Visitor Center features exhibits about the fascinating ecology and geology of Death Valley, plus the actual thermometer that measured the record-smashing heat.

Turbat – Pakistan

Located in the Balochistan province of southwestern Pakistan, Turbat is a busy city on the banks of the Kech River. Average daily highs here range from 83 to 103 degrees Fahrenheit, and the climate is characterized by hot, muggy summers and mild winters. On May 28, 2017, a temperature of 128.7 degrees was recorded. At the time, this was the fourth-highest temperature ever measured on the planet. Besides being hot, Turbat has a strong connection with the ancient Balochi culture and is the setting for Sassi Punnu, a beloved romantic folktale. Across the river from the city center is the ruined Hoth Punnu Fort, which features in the tale and is believed to date back to 5000 BCE.

Mitribah – Kuwait

On July 21, 2016, a weather station in the remote desert area of Mitribah in Kuwait registered a temperature of 129 degrees Fahrenheit. The sweltering heat was the third-highest temperature ever recorded on Earth and the highest in 76 years. It also set a new record for temperatures across continental Asia. In comparison, the average heat in Kuwait City, located 80 miles to the southwest, ranges from 47 to 115 degrees. Those wanting to experience the desert and coastal contrasts of this small Arabian Peninsula nation can do so at Sabah Al-Ahmad Natural Reserve, which provides a natural habitat for more than 250 resident and migratory bird species. Camel riding and SUV tours of the desert and dunes are also possible.

Basra – Iraq

Basra straddles the Shatt al-Arab river on the Arabian Peninsula, a region known for its arid desert climate. Temperatures here typically fluctuate between 45 and 116 degrees Fahrenheit. Incredibly, just a day after Mitribah registered its all-time record, the mercury also hit 129 degrees in Basra. The city itself is the third-largest in Iraq and a thriving port home to around 1.5 million people. Established as a military base in the seventh century, it’s notable in popular culture as the launchpad for Sinbad the Sailor’s journeys in The Thousand and One Nights. 

Tirat Tsvi – Israel

Tirat Tsvi is located in the Beit She’an Valley of Israel’s Northern District, close to the Jordan border. On June 21, 1942, residents of this town of roughly 1,000 people witnessed a temperature reading of 129 degrees Fahrenheit. With the World Meteorological Organization classifying Israel as a European nation, this extraordinary heat is consequently the highest ever on the continent. Tirat Tsvi was established in 1937 as one of the first kibbutz, a type of collective community centered around agriculture. It is named after revered 19th-century Zionist leader Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer. In spite of the intense heat, the community has a flourishing agriculture trade. Carrots, dates, olives, cotton, and wheat are among its most prominent crops. 

Ahvaz – Iran

The highest temperature measured on the Asian continent — 129.2 degrees Fahrenheit — was registered in the city of Ahvan in June 2017. Usual temperatures here fluctuate between 46 and 115 degrees. These extremes are a result of a shortage of vegetation and the city’s setting between flat, arid plains and sand dunes. Ahvaz is the largest city in Iran’s central Khuzestan province and has an economy built on the oil and petrochemical industries. Founded on the Karun River some 3,000 years ago, its identity is influenced by the Arab, Persian, and Lur cultures.

Kebili – Tunisia

Africa’s hottest recorded temperature is a sweltering 131 degrees Fahrenheit, which occurred in the city of Kebili (also known as Qibilī) in July 1931. The city is one of the most important settlements in Tunisia’s Nefzaoua region and is characterized by its date palms and handicraft markets. Kebili is located close to the vast Chott el Djerid salt flat, which was used as a filming location in the Star Wars series. Author Jules Verne also mentioned the salt flat in his novel The Thousand and Second Night, An Arabesque. When not breaking continental heat records, temperatures around Kebili normally range from 43 to 101 degrees.