12 of the Hottest Places on Earth

"It's all about the terrain in this part of the Mojave Desert that makes it so sweltering: The lofty peaks of the surrounding Sierras trap heat inside this low-elevation valley (below sea level), and there's very little vegetation to block the heat from penetrating the ground. The average summer day in Death Valley National Park reaches about 100, though it isn't uncommon for temperatures to soar above 120."

"When you dream of jetting off to somewhere warm and sunny, you likely picture a beach with temperatures in the 80s or maybe 90s-not a desert that gets up to 130 degrees. But for those with extremely hot destinations on their must-visit lists, these steamy cities and barren stretches of baking dirt are of particular interest. They're the hottest places on Earth."

Several locations across the globe experience extreme heat, ranging from desert basins to urban regions. Death Valley, California, recorded 134°F in 1913 and reportedly reached about 130°F in 2020 and 2021; its low elevation and surrounding Sierra peaks trap heat, and sparse vegetation allows ground heating. Kebili, Tunisia, recorded 131°F in July 1931 and sits as a historic oasis in the Sahara. Some hotspots maintain year-round high temperatures, while others stay moderate in cooler months before extreme summer spikes. Notable extreme-heat spots include regions in China, parts of Greece, and locations across the United States and Australia.

Read at Travel + Leisure