
Earth is the only hospitable planet. For most of the time, living here fills one with glee. But just until summer arrives, then, everyone is wishing for a place far above in the sky or a land down under where they can escape the blazing sun, giving each a welt of flame. In certain locations, temperatures reach high enough for the living to feel like the dead. Here are the 10 hottest temperatures recorded on Earth.

On July 10th, 1913 the temperatures in Furnace Creek in Death Valley in California reached an all-time high of 56.7 degrees Celsius. It is the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth. The area is what can be described as a natural pressure cooker. It is below sea level, surrounded by mountains, receives relentless sunshine and has downsloping hot winds. Thus, all the factors combine to trap heat and keep the ground radiating.

Kebili, in Tunisia located in North Africa comes second in the list. The town recorded a temperature of 55 degrees Celsius on July 7th, 1931. This extreme reading is attributed to the location's hot desert region, intense solar radiation, low humidity, and sparse vegetation, all contributing to rapid heating of the ground.

Ahvaz, a city in Iran ranks among the hottest cities in the world. Located on the bank of the Karoun River, it is known for extreme heat. On June 29th, 2017 it recorded a temperature of 53.5 degrees Celsius.

While the environment here is dry, Tirat Zvi in Israel is known for its agricultural activities and lush palm groves. It once recorded one of the highest temperatures in the world, at 53.9 degrees Celsius on June 21st, 1942.

Kuwait is one of the hottest cities in the world where temperatures frequently soar to extremely high levels. The Mitribah weather station once recorded 54 degrees Celsius on July 21st, 2016.

Basra in Iraq comes in sixth place in the list. On July 22nd, 2016, the city recorded a high temperature of 53.9 degrees Celsius. Historically a port city, Basra has a combination of high humidity and high temperatures, making surviving the climate a challenging task.

Located in Balochistan, Turbat is renowned for its high temperatures. On May 28th, 2017, the city recorded a high temperature of 53.7 degrees Celsius.

Mexicali, the capital of North Mexico in Baja California is a city historically known for its high temperature. It recorded a temperature of 52 degrees Celsius on July 28th, 1995.

Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is in ninth place on the list. Here, on June 22nd, 2010, the temperature reached 52 degrees Celsius. Along with the scorching sun, Jeddah is also known as the gateway to Mecca and Medina.

Located in East Africa, Dallol in Ethiopia is believed to be one of the hottest places on Earth. It has the Danakil Depression, known as the hottest area in the world. It recorded a temperature of 34.4 degrees Celsius, adding another extreme temperature to its history.

Extreme temperature records, especially older ones, are subject to verification and debate. Some historical readings (such as Kebili, 1931) were recorded using less advanced instruments and may not meet modern standards.