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The hottest places in the world push Earth’s climate extremes to the limit. From the blistering sands of Death Valley to the sulfur pools of Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression, these locations redefine what “scorching hot” means. Readers will discover record-setting temperatures, the geography behind the heat, and how humans adapt to these furnace-like environments. By the end of this article, you’ll know which deserts, cities, and countries top the heat charts – and what it feels like to stand in their relentless sun.

What Makes a Place the Hottest on Earth?

Extreme heat usually comes from a combination of location and landscape. Low-elevation deserts near the equator get the most intense sun. For example, Death Valley’s Furnace Creek sits about 280 feet below sea level, allowing the air to become denser and trap heat. In contrast, mountains and coastal areas rarely reach such highs. Key factors that crank up the heat include:

• Latitude and Sun Angle: Regions close to the equator (e.g. Sahara, Arabian Peninsula) get strong year-round sunlight.
  
• Elevation: Low-altitude basins heat up more than high mountains.
  
• Dry Air: Very low humidity means less evaporative cooling. Without moisture to absorb heat, daytime temperatures soar.
  
• Surface Material: Dark rock and sand absorb solar energy easily, heating the ground. For example, black volcanic rock in Death Valley radiates intense heat.
  
• Lack of Vegetation/Water: Sparse plants and rain leave the ground exposed. Regular rainfall cools and green plants provide shade, so deserts – which are bone-dry – get far hotter.
  
• Airflow: Surrounded by high mountains (like Furnace Creek) or by expansive desert plains, hot air can stagnate. In Death Valley, hot air rises and then sinks back into the valley where it’s heated again.
  

Instruments also matter. The famous Furnace Creek thermometer (an old mercury instrument) is housed in shade and records air temperature at 1–2 meters above ground. It read a record-breaking 56.7 °C (134 °F) on July 10, 1913. These official records use shaded thermometers; surface temperatures (e.g., from satellites) can be even higher. Nevertheless, the air temperature is the standard for naming the hottest places.

Top 10 Hottest Places on Earth

Meteorologists have verified a handful of locations that hold the heat records. Below are some of the top scorches on record:

1. Death Valley, USA (Furnace Creek) – 56.7 °C (134 °F) on July 10, 1913. The lowest spot on North America is the official holder of the highest recorded air temperature.
   
2. Kebili, Tunisia – 55.0 °C (131 °F) on July 7, 1931. This Sahara-edge town logged Africa’s hottest temperature on record.
   
3. Tirat Zvi, Israel – 54.0 °C (129 °F) on June 21, 1942. In what the WMO classifies as Europe, this small community holds the record for Europe’s highest heat.
   
4. Ahvaz, Iran – 54.0 °C (129.2 °F) on June 29, 2017. A desert city, Ahvaz, regularly sees summer highs around 50–53°C.
   
5. Mitribah, Kuwait – 53.9 °C (129 °F) on July 21, 2016. This weather station’s reading is the confirmed hottest in Asia and among the highest world readings.
   
6. Basra, Iraq – 53.9 °C (129 °F) on July 22, 2016. A heavily populated city on the Shatt al-Arab river, Basra hit 53.9 °C just a day after nearby Kuwait’s record.
   
7. Turbat, Pakistan – 53.7 °C (128.7 °F) on May 28, 2017. This city in southwestern Pakistan set a national and continental heat record, verified by the WMO.
   
8. Ouargla, Algeria – 55.0 °C (131 °F) on July 5, 2018. In the Algerian Sahara, Ouargla tied Tunisia’s record and is one of Africa’s hottest spots.
   
9. Mexicali Valley, Mexico – 52.0 °C (125.6 °F) on July 28, 1995. Bordering California’s deserts, this valley saw the ninth-highest temperature ever recorded.
   
10. Oodnadatta, Australia – 50.7 °C (123 °F) in January 1960. In the Australian Outback, this town’s thermometer hit 50.7 °C, still the Southern Hemisphere record.
    

Other extreme spots: Iran’s Lut Desert has not had ground measurements, but satellites reported surface temps up to 70 °C (158 °F) in 2021 – hotter than anything on record by far. Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression sees daytime highs above 50 °C nearly year-round. The Libyan record of 58 °C (136 °F) from 1922 in Al-Aziziyah was invalidated by the WMO.

Researchers use both air temperature and heat index (temperature + humidity). The worst heat indices have approached 74 °C (165 °F) in the Middle East, a level considered extreme danger to life. By such measures, places like Kuwait and Pakistan have crossed the thresholds of human tolerance.

Hottest Cities and Inhabited Places

Not all heat records occur in ghost towns. Many densely populated areas endure fierce heat. Some of the hottest cities and inhabited spots include:

• Dallol, Ethiopia: Often called the hottest inhabited place on Earth, its average daily temperature is around 34 °C (94 °F). The tiny settlement sits in the Danakil Depression amidst boiling acid pools.
  
• Danakil Depression (Afar Region, Ethiopia): A Nearby town whose few inhabitants see summer highs above 50 °C. Geothermal activity (hot springs and volcanic heat) bakes the region year-round.
  
• Basra, Iraq: City of ~1.5 million, with an official all-time high of 53.9 °C. Summers regularly top 50 °C; thermal discomfort is common.
  
• Ahvaz and Bandar Mahshahr, Iran: Large cities on the Persian Gulf. Ahvaz hit 54 °C, and Bandar Mahshahr endured a 2015 humidity-driven heat index over 70 °C. Locals cope with early work hours and air conditioning.
  
• Kuwait City, Kuwait: While the official record is at Mitribah, the capital often reaches 50+ °C in summer, with high humidity. In 2022, Kuwait City hit 52 °C (125.6 °F).
  
• Phoenix, Arizona, USA: Average summer highs in Phoenix exceed 40 °C (104 °F). Extreme days of 45–47 °C (115–117 °F) are common. Many residents now desert noon activities due to the oven-like heat.
  
• Timbuktu, Mali: Ancient Saharan city where average high temperatures in the peak months are above 40 °C. Even “cool” months see daytime highs around 30 °C.
  
• Bangkok, Thailand: Not extreme by record, but Bangkok is warm year-round. Its monthly low never drops below ~22 °C, and highs exceed 32 °C every day. This constant heat (combined with humidity) makes it one of the world’s hottest large cities climatically.
  

Each of these places illustrates a different way people live with intense heat. Some towns are famous for records (Death Valley, Kebili), while others are simply very hot every day (Dubai, Bangkok). Climate change is pushing many cities toward unprecedented highs: for example, New Delhi, India, reached 50 °C (122 °F) in 2024 for the first time on record.

Hottest Countries and Continents

On a country-wide scale, data show that West Africa and the Persian Gulf dominate average heat charts. By annual mean temperature, the hottest countries include Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal – each averaging around 29–30 °C. Mauritania, Gambia, and other Sahel nations follow closely. Small tropical locales like Aruba and the Cayman Islands (year-round trade winds) also rank high. In the Middle East, desert states like Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain often see all-year temperatures above 29 °C on average.

The hottest continent is generally Africa. It contains the vast Sahara and Sahel regions, where days are brutally hot. In fact, Africa holds the records for the highest temperatures (e.g,. Tunisia’s 55 °C) and has many countries with scorching climates. Asia has fierce local records too (Iran, Iraq) and very hot coastal deserts (e.g., Arabian Peninsula), but Africa’s combined desert area usually makes it the leader in total heat.

In the United States, the hottest states tend to be in the far South and Southwest. Florida tops the list by annual climate, followed by Louisiana, Texas, and Hawaii. These states have subtropical to tropical climates. Arizona and California see the highest official readings (e.g., 56.7 °C in Death Valley) but have more varied elevations. A recent ranking (2025) listed the U.S. hottest states as: Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Hawaii, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Arizona.

Global insight: If you ask a smart device “what country is warm now,” typical answers would point to nations near the time of year’s summer peak. For instance, on a midsummer day, places like Kuwait or Pakistan might be blazing hot.

Surviving the Heat: Daily Peaks and Safety

In almost any hot climate, the hottest part of the day is mid-to-late afternoon (around 2–4 PM). By then, the sun has been beating down for hours, and the ground radiates maximum heat. Travelers learn this the hard way: stepping outside at 3 PM in a desert often feels like stepping into an oven. For example, climbers in the Sahara plan treks before sunrise and avoid the “furnace hours” after noon. Therefore, heat guidelines recommend staying indoors or in shade during the peak heat of the afternoon.

Humidity can make heat far more dangerous. Places like the Persian Gulf experience heat indices (feels-like temperatures) above 70 °C. By contrast, extremely humid jungles can feel oppressive at only 30–35 °C. Interestingly, the humidest place in the world (Mawsynram, India) isn’t the hottest in temperature, but the combination of heat and near-saturation humidity there makes it feel sweltering year-round.

Safety tip: Hydration and shade are essential. People living in these climates use loose, light clothing, stay hydrated, and take breaks from the sun. Desert dwellers historically built homes with thick walls and small windows to keep interiors cool. Modern cities turn to air conditioning and underground centers. Understanding the daily heat cycle has a practical impact: even one author’s guide recalls nearly passing out by noon in the Sahara, a lesson learned always to carry water and travel early.

Final Thoughts

The hottest places in the world remind us of nature’s raw power and our ability to adapt. From Death Valley’s shimmering horizons to Ethiopia’s fiery Danakil Depression, these regions show both danger and resilience. For travelers, they highlight the need for preparation. For scientists, they act as warnings of a warming planet. Ultimately, these scorching landscapes are harsh yet fascinating teachers—pushing us to respect, adapt, and prepare for the future of our Earth.

People Also Ask

Q: What is the hottest place on Earth?
A: Death Valley, USA, holds the record at 56.7 °C (134 °F) in 1913.

Q: Which city is the hottest in the world?
A: Basra (Iraq) and Kuwait City often reach 53–54 °C, making them the hottest large cities.

Q: What is the hottest inhabited place on Earth?
A: Dallol, Ethiopia, averages 34 °C (94 °F) year-round, making it the hottest inhabited spot.

Q: Which continent is the hottest?
A: Africa, home to the Sahara Desert and nations like Mali and Niger, is the hottest continent.

Q: Which country is the hottest?
A: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal rank among the hottest countries by yearly averages (~30 °C).

Q: What was the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth?
A: 56.7 °C (134 °F) in Death Valley, USA, remains the official record.

Q: What part of the day is usually the hottest?
A: Late afternoon (2–4 PM) is typically the hottest period of the day.