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Top 7 Bizarre Places On Earth With Extreme Harsh Environment

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We explore the earth most visited places, honeymoon destinations, adventurous places but have you ever thought of visiting the places with extreme temperature on earth. These are some crazy destinations where humans can’t find a way to live in these hostile environments.

1. McMurdo Dry Valleys

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We’ve mentioned a number of desert environments on our list. But would it be a surprise to find out that the driest location in the world is actually in one of the coldest spots on the planet? The McMurdo Dry Valleys are located in Antarctica, west of McMurdo Sound.

It is actually one of the most extreme deserts in the world, and even contains a lake and a river. But that’s about the only water you’ll find here.  The valleys stretch for some 1,900 miles and are free of snow and ice.

That effect is due in part to high, freezing winds that can blast at around 200 miles per hour.  That kept the area so dry that some experts say the area has not received a single drop of rain in some 14 million years.

2. Dasht-e-Lut, Iran

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The world’s 27th largest desert, the Dasht-e-Lut is located in Iran.  Along with the Atacama Desert in Chile, it’s one of the driest regions in the world.  It’s also one of the hottest.  Experts say that from 2003 to 2010, the plateau recorded the highest land surface temperatures in the world, exceeding 159 degrees F.

That intense heat, coupled with the extreme dryness, means that no creature (not even bacteria) can survive in the vast central expanse. And now for many years, Iran has consistently been in the top 5 hottest places on earth.

3. Dallol, Ethiopia

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As sea level drop, temperatures rise. Such is the case in Dallol, located in northern Ethiopia.  Located around 430 feet below sea level, it has an average annual temperature of 95 degrees F.  That gives it the current official record for the highest average temperature of an inhabited area.  Year round, this is the hottest place in the world — temperature wise, anyway.

4. Danakil Depression

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Here’s another location where the heat can beat you. The Danakil Depression in Africa is one of the lowest spots in the world, descending more than 400 feet below sea level. Because of that, the triangular formation is also one of the world’s hottest locations year round. Measuring around 124 by 31 miles, the area receives little to no rainfall.

The unusual environment has produced landscapes that appear to come from another world. The intensity is so high that the areas like the Sulfur Springs at Dallol are being researched to see how life might evolve on different worlds.

Two active volcanoes are located to the south, one of which (Erta Ale) has lava percolating up from the Earth’s mantle.

5. Salar de Uyuni Bolivia, The Flattest Place

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Also Read: 6 Hottest Cities In The World

This location in Bolivia comprises nearly 5,000 square miles, making it’s the world’s largest salt flat — and about the size of Jamaica.  It’s one of the flattest places found on the planet, and some sources say it’s THE flattest place. That makes it an ideal location for Earth observation satellites to calibrate their altimeters.

Experts say, that around 10 billion tons of salt can be found here. Even some hotels are constructed from the salt. During the rainy season, the water creates an amazing mirror effect, which makes it nearly impossible to discern where the land ends and the sky begins.

6. Mt Kilauea, Hawaii active volcano

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It’s regarded as one of the world’s most active volcano. In the Hawaiian language, Kilauea means ‘spewing’ or ‘much spreading’ … and that’s a good reference to its lava flow.  It’s long been known as an active volcano … experts say, its oldest lava flows have been estimated at around 275,000 years.

Its most major recent eruption was in 1983, and was by far it’s the longest-lasting event. The volcano has continued erupting for over three decades!  More than 200 structures have been destroyed, in addition to many homes and buildings in nearby towns.

7. Death Valley, CA

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Well-known as one of the world’s hottest environments, this location in California’s Death Valley National Park holds a couple of heat-related records.  On July 10, 1913, temperatures hit a scorching 134 degrees F, the hottest atmospheric temperature ever documented on the planet.

And the hottest ground surface temperature ever recorded on Earth occurred there as well.  In 1972, a blistering 201 degrees F was registered in Furnace Creek.

Till date, it’s the only recorded ground surface temperature to break 200 degrees.  The extreme heat can be explained by Badwater Basin located in Death Valley at 282 feet, it’s the lowest point of elevation in North America.

For all those extreme conditions, the area is home to a resort, hiking trails, and golf courses. If you go, make sure you have the reliable transportation you don’t want to be stranded in a place called Death Valley.

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