The last few summers here in the UK, we’ve had some seriously sizzling weeks. However, it’s quite laughable to the rest of the world that we complain about it.
We may be sweating through this heat wave in the UK, but to some countries this is nothing. The humidity here is what really makes you feel the heat, but we’re not exactly the Sahara Desert.
If you think this is bad, then let’s look at some of the hottest places on Earth. You’ll soon realize how easy we’re getting it.
Death Valley, California
This national Park really lives up to its name. It’s recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s hottest recorded temperature. It reached a scorching 134°F (56.6°C) in the July of 1913.
Since then, it has experienced the hottest June on record – averaging on 115.5°F (46.3°C) and topping out at 126°F (52.2°C).
Death Valley National Park, California.
El-Azizia, Libya
This North African town is located near the Mediterranean Sea. In Summer months, it will regularly climb over 120°F (48.8°C).
It used to be record holder for Earth’s hottest destination, but it turns out its 134°F (56.6°C) was invalidated by a team of meteorologists.
It can’t be easy living here. But people do.
Dallol, Ethiopia
Described as a “geological wonderland”, Dallol is covered in salt formations, acidic hot springs and gas geysers. The field also ranks as the lowest sub-aerial volcano.
Summer highs here reach as high as 114°F (45.5°C), not something you want to combine with an acid bath.
Dallol is dotted with geyserite mounds formed by the strongly mineralized waters going up through a salt dome.
Lut Desert, Iran
This desert plateau is quite literally uninhabitable. It’s often referred to as the hottest surface on the planet, since the pure heating of radiation by the sun causes the surface to hit 159°F (70.5°C).
Not even any bacterias can survive with the floor at that kind of temperate.
Lut Desert is completely barren.
Flaming Mountains, China
With a name like that, it’s not surprising it’s featured on this list. These hills are made of sandstone and can be found in the Tian Shan mountain range.
On average, summer temperatures soar past 122°F (50°C). A large thermometer can be seen opposite the mountains, taking the air’s temperature.
Despite the heat, China’s Flaming Mountains is still a popular tourist spot.
Queensland, Australia
It’s not just an array of reptiles and insects that want to kill you in Australia. It’s also its killer climate, especially in the badlands of Queensland. Its lack of shadiness makes it extremely hostile and arid.
In 2003, recordings of its land temperature hit its highest at 156.7°F (69.2°C). How anything survives here, I do not know.
A lot of Australia’s badlands has never even been explored.
Bangkok, Thailand
While it’s not so much one of the hottest places on Earth, the capital of Thailand is still NEVER comfortably warm. Its annual mean temperate is 85°F (29.4°C), so you can’t escape it.
March to May can be its worst, since it reaches up to 100°F (37.7°C), with humidity making it feel 10 times worse, reaching up to 90%.
Bangkok’s humidity makes the heat feel more intense than it really is.
We get it quite easy here in the UK, don’t you think?
Just be thankful that we don’t hit anywhere near the temperatures California has to endure. We get this pathetic 28°C for about 2 weeks a year. Make the most of it!