Death Valley, California holds the record for highest air temperature at 56.7°C (134°F), with its bowl-like geography trapping heat in the valley's depths.
Iran's Lut Desert recorded the highest ground temperature ever at 70.7°C (159.3°F), thanks to its dark volcanic rocks and vast salt flats.
In 1922, Al Aziziyah, Libya recorded 58°C, holding the world's highest temperature record for nearly a century.
The Sahara Desert maintains mean temperatures above 30°C year-round, with summer temperatures consistently reaching 40°C for month-long stretches.
Queensland, Australia stands as the hottest region in the Southern Hemisphere, recording a peak temperature of 51°C in 1960.
Turbat, Pakistan made history in May 2017 with temperatures exceeding 128°F, marking one of Asia's highest recorded temperatures.
Despite their extreme conditions, many of Earth's hottest places support resilient communities who've adapted through ancient architecture and modern cooling systems.
Kebili, Tunisia's location deep within the Sahara Desert creates a uniquely hot environment due to its dry, sandy landscape that traps heat.
Death Valley earned its name from a group of pioneers in 1849-1850, though ironically only one person from the group died there.
Athens, Greece recently joined the list of extremely hot places, recording 47.1°C in July 2021 due to urban heat island effects and limited airflow.