Bacteria can't survive at 80°C either: The world's 10 hottest tourist spots

By the MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Global warming is becoming more and more apparent. In addition to Taiwan’s continuously record-breaking high temperatures, many areas and attractions around the world also reach extremely high temperatures where even bacteria find it hard to survive. Below is a list of ten of the hottest and most breathtaking scenic spots in the world, each with awe-inspiring views and climates. These extreme landscapes also attract adventurous and thrill-seeking tourists from all over the globe.

1. Saudi Arabia – Dhahran
Dhahran is located on the desert plains of eastern Saudi Arabia. The area is mountainous and rocky, and it is also where Saudi Arabia’s first oil wells were established. The climate 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 figure that remains the most extreme ever measured in the region.
 
3. Iran – Lut Desert
The Lut Desert is a large salt desert in southeastern Iran, near Kerman, and ranks as the 25th largest desert in the world. Its surface reached a maximum temperature of 70.7°C in 2005, making it one of the driest and hottest places on Earth. NASA has even called it the closest place to the hottest temperature recorded at Earth’s surface.

4. China – Flaming Mountains
The Flaming Mountains, located in the central-northern part of the Turpan Basin, are made of red sandstone. The summer climate is dry and scorching, with temperatures reaching nearly 67°C at their highest. The mountains are also famous for their appearance in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.

5. USA – Death Valley
Death Valley is situated in the arid Great Basin of the United States, spanning parts of California and Nevada. Death Valley National Park is the hottest and driest national park in the U.S., with temperatures once reaching nearly 57°C. It features a diverse desert environment including salt flats, sand dunes, rugged terrain, valleys, canyons, and mountain ranges.