Bacteria Can’t Survive at 80°C: The World’s 10 Hottest Scenic Spots

By the MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

The impact of global warming is becoming increasingly evident. Beyond Taiwan’s record-breaking high temperatures, many regions and scenic spots around the world also experience extreme heat where even bacteria struggle to survive. Below is a list of ten of the hottest yet incredibly beautiful scenic areas—each with breathtaking views and climates that attract adventurous travelers from around the globe.

1. Saudi Arabia – Dhahran
Dhahran is located on the desert terrain in eastern Saudi Arabia. The area is mountainous and rocky and is also where Saudi Arabia’s first oil wells were drilled. The climate here is characterized by extremely hot and humid summers and cool winters, with a record high temperature of 81°C.

2. Iran – Bandar Mahshahr
Bandar Mahshahr, a city in southwestern Iran, once recorded a staggering temperature of 74°C—an unbelievable reading and the most extreme ever documented in the region.
 
3. Iran – Lut Desert
The Lut Desert is a large salt pan desert in southeastern Iran, near Kerman, and ranks as the 25th largest desert in the world. In 2005, the surface of this desert recorded a temperature of 70.7°C, making it one of the driest and hottest places on Earth. NASA has even called it the closest temperature to the Earth’s surface ever measured.

4. China – Flaming Mountains
The Flaming Mountains, located in the central-northern part of Turpan Basin in Xinjiang, are composed of red sandstone. The summer climate is extremely hot and dry, with temperatures reaching up to nearly 67°C. The Flaming Mountains are also famous for their appearance in Journey to the West.

5. USA – Death Valley
Death Valley is situated in the arid Great Basin of the United States, spanning California and Nevada. Death Valley National Park is the hottest and driest national park in the U.S., having recorded temperatures close to 57°C. It features a diverse desert landscape including salt flats, sand dunes, rugged terrain, valleys, canyons, and mountains.