Top 10 highest temperatures ever recorded on Earth
The Earth's climate is incredibly diverse, ranging from the polar regions' icy expanses to the tropics' scorching deserts.
Certain locations have experienced temperatures so high that they have set records among these extremes.
These record-breaking temperatures provide a glimpse into some regions' intense heat, often highlighting the impacts of climate change and the challenges those living in these areas face.
This compilation of the highest temperatures ever recorded on Earth showcases the extraordinary heat events that have been documented over the years:
- Death Valley, California, USA: 134°F (56.7°C) on July 10, 1913: This record was set at Greenland Ranch (now Furnace Creek) in Death Valley and remains the highest temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth.
- Ahvaz, Iran: 54°C (129.2°F) on June 29, 2017: Ahvaz's record temperature is one of the highest ever recorded in the Middle East.
- Turbat, Pakistan: 53.7°C (128.7°F) on May 28, 2017: Turbat's record temperature is another example of the extreme heat experienced in South Asia.
- Xinjiang, China: 52.2°C (126°F) on July 17, 2023: On Sunday, July 16, 2023, temperatures in Sanbao township, located in Xinjiang's Turpan Depression, skyrocketed to 52.2°C, according to a report by the state-run Xinjiang Daily.
- Mitribah, UAE: 52.1°C (125.8°F) on July 21, 2016: This temperature is the highest ever recorded in Asia and highlights the intense heat of the Middle Eastern deserts.
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: 52°C (125.6°F) on June 22, 2010: Jeddah's record-breaking heat is one of the highest temperatures ever recorded in Saudi Arabia.
- Sonora, Mexico: 52°C (125.6°F) on June 28, 2017: Mexico is currently one of the countries battling intense heat waves on Earth. The 2017 record, however, remains the highest ever in the country.
- Ouargla, Algeria: 51.3°C (124.3°F) on July 5, 2018: This temperature is the highest reliably recorded in Algeria, showcasing the extreme heat of the Sahara Desert.
- Phalodi, India: 51°C (123.8°F) on May 19, 2016: Phalodi in Rajasthan, India, recorded the highest temperature ever in India, highlighting the severe heatwave conditions that affected the region.
- Oodnadatta, Australia: 50.7°C (123.3°F) on January 2, 1960: The record for the highest temperature in Australia is 50.7°C (123.3°F), set on January 2, 1960, in Oodnadatta, South Australia.
