Where is the hottest place on earth?

Hottest place on Earth – summary

• Air‑temperature record: The highest air temperature ever measured on Earth is 56.7 °C (134 °F), recorded at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley, USA on 10 July 1913【nps.gov](https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/weather.htm)
  

• Official recognition: This record is upheld by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Guinness World Records【en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highest_temperature_recorded_on_Earth)

• Surface‑temperature record: Satellite data show that the Lut Desert in Iran and the Sonoran Desert (Mexico–U.S. border) have reached surface temperatures up to 80.8 °C (177 °F)【science.org](https://www.science.org/content/article/move-over-death-valley-these-are-two-hottest-spots-earth)
  

• Why surface temps can exceed air temps: The ground absorbs direct solar radiation, making surface temperatures higher than the air above, especially on clear, sunny days【science.org](https://www.science.org/content/article/move-over-death-valley-these-are-two-hottest-spots-earth)
  

• Other hot locations:

  • Jeddah, Saudi Arabia recorded 52 °C (125.6 °F) in 2010【sciencefocus.com](https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/hottest-place-on-earth)
    
  • Mexicali, Mexico reached 52 °C (125.6 °F) in 1995【sciencefocus.com](https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/hottest-place-on-earth)
    

These findings illustrate that while Death Valley holds the official air‑temperature record, satellite‑measured surface temperatures can be far hotter, with the Lut and Sonoran deserts topping the list.