Deserts are notorious for their extreme heat and dry conditions, but some deserts take the heat to record-breaking levels. In this blog, we explore the top five hottest deserts on Earth, with temperatures so high they make the everyday heat feel mild in comparison. From Lut Desert in Iran to Death Valley in the USA, these regions hold some of the most extreme temperature records on the planet.
5. Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan
Record Temperature: Exceeds 50°C (122°F)
The Karakum Desert in Central Asia is known for its extreme temperature fluctuations, with summer air temperatures regularly exceeding 50°C (122°F). This desert, which is largely uninhabited due to its harsh climate, experiences severe droughts and scorching heat waves that make it one of the hottest places in the world.
Sources: Earth Observatory, Wikipedia
4. Sonoran Desert, Mexico/USA
Record Temperature: Up to 50°C (122°F) (air temperature)
The Sonoran Desert, spanning the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, is known for its extreme heat. While the air temperature can regularly exceed 40°C (104°F) in summer, the desert experiences some of the highest temperatures in North America, reaching up to 50°C (122°F). Surface temperatures in certain regions may be higher but are not commonly recorded to the same extreme levels as in other deserts like Lut or Death Valley.
Sources: Scientific American, Wikipedia on Sonoran Desert
3. Flaming Mountains, China
Record Temperature: 66.8°C (152.2°F)
The Flaming Mountains, located in the Turpan Depression in China’s Xinjiang region, are notorious for their intense heat. In 2008, temperatures in this area reached 66.8°C (152.2°F), one of the hottest recorded temperatures in the world. The Turpan Depression is one of the lowest points in China, which helps trap hot air and makes the surrounding mountains one of the hottest places on Earth.
Sources: NASA Earth Observatory, Wikipedia
2. Death Valley, United States
Record Temperature: 56.7°C (134°F)
Death Valley holds the world record for the highest air temperature ever recorded. Furnace Creek, located in California’s Death Valley, reached 56.7°C (134°F) in 1913. While this temperature has been debated, it remains a key milestone in temperature records. Death Valley is known for its extreme heat and dry conditions, and it regularly experiences some of the hottest air temperatures on Earth.
Sources: National Weather Service, Wikipedia
1. Lut Desert (Dasht-e Lut), Iran
Record Temperature: 70.7°C (159.3°F)
The Lut Desert is the hottest desert on Earth in terms of land surface temperature. In 2005, satellite measurements recorded a scorching temperature of 70.7°C (159.3°F), which is considered the highest land surface temperature ever documented. This desert is located in southeastern Iran and is one of the most inhospitable places on the planet due to its lack of vegetation and extremely dry conditions.
Sources: NASA Earth Observatory, Wikipedia
