Top 13 Hottest Locations on Earth

Kebili is an oasis located in central Tunisia, a popular spot for locals seeking refuge from the extreme heat, thanks to its palm trees offering shade and water sources. However, Kebili is also one of the hottest places in Africa, with recorded temperatures reaching up to 55°C. The residents here often stay indoors with their windows tightly shut to escape the blistering sun, heat, and sand.

Rub' al Khali is the world's largest desert, constantly covered by sand throughout the year, occupying about one-third of the Arabian Peninsula. This vast area spans countries such as Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The climate here is extremely hot and dry, with the highest recorded temperature reaching 56.1°C.

On September 13, 1922, a weather station in El Azizia, Libya recorded the highest temperature ever directly measured on Earth at 58°C. This record held for 90 years until the World Meteorological Organization declared the data invalid in 2012. Despite the record being removed, the region still has the potential to set a new one, with temperatures regularly exceeding 48.9°C during the past summer months.

Death Valley, located in the Mojave Desert of California, USA, is the hottest and driest region in North America. In 2012, the World Meteorological Organization recognized this valley as holding the record for the highest directly measured temperature in North America at 56.7°C. The area is also famous for its mysterious moving rocks, which leave long trails across the ground.

The Flaming Mountains are located in the Tian Shan mountain range in Xinjiang, China. Although there are no weather stations to directly measure temperatures, a satellite from NASA recorded the surface temperature in this area reaching around 66.7°C in 2008.

Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world. In 2003, the country faced an exceptionally severe drought, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon. In the Queensland region, temperatures soared as high as 69.2°C, as measured by a NASA satellite. This could be the second highest temperature recorded globally.

Dasht-e Lut, also known as the Lut Desert in Iran, is the hottest place on Earth as of now. This area is not only incredibly dry but also desolate and barren. In 2005, NASA's satellite measurements recorded temperatures as high as 70.7°C in this region. The heat here is absolutely overwhelming.

The Kalahari Desert stretches across three Southern African countries: Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. This vast desert, covering approximately 500,000 km², is characterized by arid, semi-arid, and dry regions. Some of its sand dunes extend westward into the Namib Desert, creating the largest continuous sand strip in the world. Summer daytime temperatures can soar to 45°C, while winter nights can drop as low as -15°C. Despite its harsh conditions, life in the Kalahari is surprisingly abundant. After the rains, the desert becomes an ideal grazing ground and is home to a wide variety of wildlife.

The Syrian Desert, covering an area of 500,000 km² in the Middle East, has a unique landscape combining both steppe and desert terrain. Scientists have referred to it as the 'dead land'. The desert is home to the largest volcano in the Middle East, Es Safa, located near Damascus.

There are signs of volcanic activity in the desert, with lava vents that were active 12,000 years ago showing potential signs of reawakening. This adds to the inhospitable and lifeless reputation of the region, making it unfit for human habitation.

The desert is characterized by extreme temperatures, with the mercury often exceeding 45°C in July. Additionally, sandstorms are common, especially in February and May, intensifying the harsh climate.

The Sahara is the third largest desert on Earth (after Antarctica and the Arctic), spanning over 9 million km² and having existed for 2.5 million years. It is home to some of the largest sand dunes in the world, with some reaching heights of nearly 183 meters. Over the past several hundred thousand years, the climate of the Sahara has fluctuated dramatically between wet and dry periods. The average temperature is 29°C, but it can soar to 49°C during the hottest months. The highest recorded temperature here is 57.7°C.

The Sahara became dry and barren around 1,600 BCE due to rising global temperatures and significantly reduced rainfall. Climate change has transformed the Sahara into the vast sandy desert it is today, leading to the disappearance of nearly all its ecosystems.

Dallol Town, located in the Afar Depression of Ethiopia, holds the record for the highest average annual temperature in the world. From 1960 to 1966, the town's average temperature was 34.5°C, and throughout the year, the temperatures remained almost constant across seasons. The daily highs consistently exceeded 38°C every month.

Today, Dallol is considered a ghost town, though it was once a major mining hub in the 1960s. The town's appeal mainly lies in its geothermal deposits. Additionally, Dallol is situated in an active volcanic region, experiencing extreme heat from both the scorching sun above and the hot mineral springs that bubble up from beneath the ground.

Tirat Zvi is a settlement located in the Beit She'an Valley, Israel, about 10 km south of the city of Beit She'an, situated to the west of the Jordan River and near the Israel-Jordan border. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Valley of Springs Regional Council.

The town is relentlessly scorched by the sun throughout the summer months. In June 1942, Tirat Zvi recorded one of the highest temperatures in Asia, reaching 53.8°C. To cope with the intense heat, locals often submerge themselves in pools and plant trees around their homes for shade.

Timbuktu stands at the crossroads of ancient trade routes that traversed the vast Sahara Desert. Desertification is a growing concern here, as immense sand dunes steadily encroach upon the city. The temperatures are scorching, with the highest recorded reaching 54.4°C.

Locals report that from inside the city, the sand dunes appear to shimmer, creating the illusion of movement due to the intense heat. Capturing a photo of Timbuktu is a challenging task, often requiring a wait for a rare cloud to pass overhead, offering a brief respite from the relentless sun.