If rainy days always get you down, you might want to consider visiting — if not relocating to — places where sun is all but guaranteed. Vitamin D is more than abundant at the five spots highlighted here. In fact, some of these locations get nearly 4,000 hours of sunshine annually, or over 300-plus sunshine-filled days! Start chasing the sun now and check out the list below.
5. Dongola, Sudan
Kicking off our list of the top five sunniest places in the world is Dongola, Sudan, a city located along the banks of the Nile River in the Sahara Dessert which sees 3,814 hours of sunlight each year on average. The hottest month of the year in Dongola is June, which can see temperatures regularly hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The city’s record high is 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Coming in at number four on our list, Las Vegas, Nevada — located in the middle of the Mojave Desert — sees an average of 3,825 hours of sun per calendar year. Known for its casinos and nightlife, Las Vegas has been called “the Entertainment Capital of the World.” It has a hot, arid, subtropical desert climate that can push temperatures over 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit for much of the year, making it even more enjoyable to stay inside the resort hotels or by the pool all day.
3. Aswan, Egypt
The numbers for Aswan, Egypt are nothing short of amazing. This city on the Nile sees a whopping 3,863 hours of sun in an average year. This market city is known for its laid-back vibe, and is less of a tourist trap than some other big Egyptian cities, so travelers should think about adding a stop here to their itinerary. If they do, though, they should keep in mind that Aswan also has a subtropical desert climate and is very hot much of the year. The summer lasts from March to November, and consistently sees temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Rain very rarely falls, so don’t expect much relief from the arid air to come from Mother Nature!
2. Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Arizona’s capital, Phoenix, clocks around 3,872 hours of sun in an average year. The city can reach scorching temperatures in the summer (the record is 122 degrees Fahrenheit), but its location in the Sonoran Desert offers a unique subtropical desert climate. That means that, unlike most of the rest of the United States, Phoenix typically sees very long, very hot summers and very short, mild winters. With the highest number of 100+ degree days per year, Phoenix is known also as “The Valley of the Sun.”
1. Yuma, Arizona, United States
For Americans, one of the sunniest places in the world is right here in our backyard. Yuma, Arizona sees an average of 4,015 hours of sun per year. In the summer months, this sunshine can push the temperatures up over 100 degrees Fahrenheit most days, but for the rest of the year, the sun makes for some great outdoor adventures. Yuma is adjacent to the Kofa Mountains and wildlife rescue, so visitors and residents alike can really take advantage of all those beautiful days and go exploring. Thanks to the nearly year-round good weather, the city is also known as the “Winter Vegetable Capital of the World.”
Featured image credit: Theerawat Kaiphanlert/Getty Images
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