Visiting the World's Hottest Place (159°F, 70°C) LUT DESERT

We set out towards the hottest spot on the planet, the Lut Desert, which is mostly inaccessible due to scorching temperatures, beyond human endurance, and the lack of resources like water. NASA's Medium Resolution Imaging Spectral Radiometer installed on the Aqua satellite recorded that the world's hottest land surface was in the Lut Desert, where temperatures reached 70.7 degrees Celsius or 159.3 degrees Fahrenheit in 2005. Located in the southeast of Iran, the distance from the northernmost tip to the southernmost tip of the Lut Desert is considered 480 kilometers, and its distance from the westernmost tip to the easternmost tip is considered 320 kilometers. This vast salt desert contains many mysterious spots, like Gondonbarian, the hottest point on the planet where 70.7 degrees Celsius is measured from space, a vast plateau covered with dark volcanic rocks that are claimed to have no life on its surface. NASA has measured surface temperatures there for several years and has repeatedly seen record numbers. In this hell where the planet is cooked by the sun, we will shoot images that we have never seen before. Our first stop is Shahdad, the last town on our way, built in an oasis in the west of the desert. Here, life is normal thanks to the high altitudes. Now the temperature is about 37 degrees Celsius here, now we have hundreds of kilometers to go and the temperatures will get even higher. Before entering the desert, we see the hundreds of years old Shafi Abad Caravanserai, which is now in ruins. In the desert, while the weather is so hot, we find some water and put our scarf or shemagh in the water, national recognition, and put it on our head to reduce the temperature. So we need to record the track of going to the desert. There is a backup company which is following our GPS and our track and if something happens to us, they immediately come to us. The Lut Desert is also recognized as one of the driest regions in the world. It usually receives less than 30 millimeters of precipitation per year and this small amount of rainwater flows down the surrounding mountains for a short time and evaporates quickly. There are many salty lakes that have dried up in the scorching heat. Unfortunately, some migratory birds cannot find any shade they can take shelter in when they fly in this geography and they make a mistake. They come to these salty lakes and drink salty water without knowing and they pay for this mistake with their lives. This shows that nature has no joke and has no pity. I don't know what kind of bird this is. Beyond recognizable. Let's go. In order to move forward in the desert, we lower the pressure of the tires of the cars. They shouldn't burst under rough terrain conditions. We're just at the beginning of the road. Let's measure the soil temperature here. 63.7 degrees Celsius, 146.6 degrees Fahrenheit. I don't know what will happen in a few hundred kilometers. You see now that the shadow is 45 degrees Celsius or 113 degrees Fahrenheit. We're still early in the day. I keep the phone cooler like this with these eyes like this. If it is got hot, it doesn't work. After a difficult two-hour journey into the heart of the desert, we finally approached the central point. This place has one of the lowest altitudes in the Lod Desert and is the second hottest spot. After this point, if we are going to stay outside for more than two minutes, no part of our body should be exposed, including our hands. The first thing we did as soon as we got out of the vehicle at around 12 o'clock was to measure the temperature of the ground. Our infrared thermometer showed 66.9 degrees Celsius, 66.3 degrees Celsius, 68.2 degrees Celsius. After only two minutes of laser thermometer measurement, the device gives an error due to high temperature. Our immersion thermometer, on the other hand, shows 69.6 degrees Celsius. Our guide worried that we might get stuck in the sand and quickly got out of the vehicle. I'm going to pass these dunes and then I pick you up there because the car should be lighter. As we move towards the center of the desert, the conditions are getting tougher. There are clouds out there which we have not seen anywhere before. We need to be very careful near the sand dunes because we got stuck immediately. You should be very careful and drive very good. It's very hard to breathe here. I'm actually very thirsty. As you see, the red line of the thermometer stuck to the top, it's not moving. Can't measure. It shows that it exceeds 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit. We also have a laser thermometer here. This no longer works at all, giving an error message. This is an immersion thermometer. There is a temperature of 52 degrees Celsius or 125.5 degrees Fahrenheit here. Our guide says we will go further, but even this geography does not allow us to breathe. After opening the window, it is like a hair dryer machine. It's really unbelievable. The floor is like a pan on a stove. The ambiance is like an oven. We are pushing the boundaries here. I was thinking that I would be relaxed when I opened the window, but it is worse. It's like the hot air squeezing us. Air temperature and surface temperature are different concepts. While the surface temperature indicates the values for the sand absorbing the sun, the air temperature indicates the values in the air at least 1.5 meters above the sand. Usually the surface temperature is higher than the air temperature. Because of this rock. Look, my shoe is melted. My feet feel like burning. We are not in the hottest place yet. Our friend's shoe just melted because of stepping on the ground. This layer has slipped. The ground is about 70 degrees Celsius or 158 degrees Fahrenheit. When we are not filming, we protect our cameras from high temperatures in the refrigerator where we store our water. Otherwise, they are constantly turning off. Our phones also became unusable from time to time. My phone doesn't work. Even though I constantly refill the 2 liter water bag I carry on my back all the time and drink water again and again, I can't stop my thirst. It is now 2.15 pm. We are walking towards Indus Desert. Let's see how far we can walk. The near west of the desert is a low altitude region with an altitude of up to 150 meters and is exposed to the strong winds. Wind erosions form colute structures which are up to 150 meters high and can be seen in rows for tens of kilometers. The region is also home to yordanks up to 75 meters high, parallel ridges and other geoclimatic formations. Although the wind is strong here, the sand is almost scorching. I have a hard time even standing up like this because the heat from the ground is burning my feet. Even though I'm wearing high-heeled sneakers, I can feel the warmth. Temperature measurements are made in shaded areas by weather stations. There is no working weather station here. We will also provide some shadow here. In the shade near Kaluz, where there are fast-blowing winds, we couldn't see the 52 degrees Celsius we saw under the sun one hour ago. You see that the temperature is now 47.3 degrees Celsius, 117 degrees Fahrenheit. But innocent winds can turn into sandstorms later in the day. Winds also make our lips chapped and increase our thirst. The sun rays reflected back from the sand make it difficult for us to see. That's worse. I feel like I'm blind. There's so much light. Glasses are a very serious need. It is really impossible to see around without them. It also protects against sandstorms from the sides. But this is not the hottest spot. We haven't reached the hottest point yet. I think the temperatures are 5 to 6 degrees Celsius higher there. After 50 degrees Celsius, it becomes more difficult to withstand with each increasing degree. It becomes impossible to hold metal objects and also some objects may melt. The effect of a temperature increase from 50 to 51 degrees Celsius is very different from 30 to 31 degrees Celsius. It pushes the limits of endurance. As the hours progress, the wind intensity increases. These are signs of a nighttime sandstorm. After landscape darkens under the red clouds, a sound like the roar of the sea reaches everywhere. You lie on the ground, motionless, in despair. This could be a sandstorm. We can finally breathe a little in the coolness of the shade. Now we are going to get our food heated by the sand. The temperature of 70 degrees Celsius coming from the ground makes our meal ready. Let's reduce the temperature of your body. Here you go. We are resting in the shade. It is around 3.30 pm. It's like the sun is absorbing all of our energy. We are eating a local Iranian dish called Korma Sebzi. I'm stepping on a ground that perhaps humankind has never stepped on before. It's an interesting feeling. These depths of the desert are not visited much. We are near the Kalut. You are seeing the walls of the Kalut. It is quite hard. And it's a big chunk. Now we are trying to return to the camping site. And we are very thirsty. The water is gone. The tracks started to disappear. I cannot remember where this place is. We've been walking for about 3 hours. The sun has come down quite a bit. The temperature began to lose its effect a little. I think it is around 45 degrees Celsius or 113 degrees Fahrenheit now. A desert is an endless road. Everywhere you look, there are thousands of roads covered with sand. But for those who do not know the direction, there is only one destiny. Here some migratory birds enter the desert. They can't get out of the desert because of the intense heat. And by falling from the sky, they contribute to the ecological balance which includes grasshoppers and desert foxes. Finally, we returned and set off on a quick quest northward to camp somewhere sheltered from the night storm. As the weather cools enough to take off our hats at 7.30 pm, the wind speed increases and we hope that a sandstorm will not occur. Luckily, we are safe in this higher location, enjoying the sunset before the big day tomorrow. I've prepared a light trap to show you that there is life in the Lut Desert. Let's see which animals will come. Information on biodiversity in this region is limited. But in addition to the barren vegetation in the north, many species can also be seen, including desert foxes, snakes, lizards, elurelis spiders, moths and red-veined darters. However, it is specifically stated in many sources that no living creature lives in Gondonbarian, the hottest region we will reach tomorrow at noon. This tree is the nebka tree. As you can see, there is a lot of sand under it because there are many sandstorms here and the tree collects the sand at its root. They are kind of growing together. Small ones of nebka trees, one of the few plant species that survive in the unfavorable location of the desert, are everywhere. The hills on which they stand will grow with them. We're gonna go here. Volcanic mountain, volcanic area. And here is Gondonbarian. This is a region where even those who go around with camels for years have barely survived. According to the written legends, towards the end of some journeys that took weeks, even the camels would crawl on their knees with trembling legs. The most realistic-looking mirages always disorientated the adventurers. Have you ever come to Gondonbarian in summer? No, it is very dangerous to come here in this season. It's 8 years that I'm doing in Lut Desert, but this is the first time that I'm coming here in this season. The weather is so hot and very hard. Is there anyone who comes here? No, there is no people doing this. There are rumors that a caravan loaded with wheat had to leave its loads on the ground and when they returned a few days later with raced camels to pick up the loads, they found their wheat roasted. Gondonbarian means roasted wheat in Persian. The surrounding sand dunes and mountains trap the hot air on the ground. Its low altitude reduces the chance of air rising and cooling. The dark color of the volcanic rocks on its surface almost soaks up the sun. On our way to Gondonbarian, we found two abandoned motorcycle wheels. We have no idea what happened to the riders in this hell, where the nearest settlement is miles away. Some tourists come here in the cool months like December, January, February, but visiting the desert in June, July, August is regularly banned by the Iranian government. We cannot go any further. The sun is black and the temperature is so hot. We stop here. No more further. Ok. It is dangerous to go further. Everything is forbidden. So I require only two hours to film here because I need to investigate these stones. How long can we keep here? Actually, to be honest, it is better to leave here as soon as possible. But if you want to do anything, it is not my responsibility. Just go, we go back there and we wait there for you. You go and do whatever you want and go back as soon as possible. It is dangerous to stay here more. You will go back now? Yeah, we go back now. It is very dangerous for the car to keep the car here. As you see, the stones are black and very heat and it may flood the tires or also damage the engine. So we go back there, wait for you. Like only 200 meters? Maybe a little bit more, yeah. The temperature is so hot and so I am trying to cool the radiator. We are here, exactly here. Like 300 or 400 meters to Gandomherian hill. We are not allowed to go further with car. You can do this by walking. And this big hill is Gandomherian. You need to be careful. Take water with yourself and cover yourself completely. Because the weather is so dry even if your skin will be burned and you will be heated and your body will be dehydrated and you will die. Just be careful and take lots of water with yourself. Take one radio. Just in emergency cases we need to be with each other in touch. Be careful, your shoes should be tight and the heat may burn your shoes as well. Just please go back as soon as possible. As soon as did your job, go back. And always should be in touch with radio. Just one group. Yes, take the radio with yourself and be careful. I don't know if it is not reality. It is the reality. It is dangerous. The reality is dangerous. Go and go back soon. And the time is the maximum temperature. It's 12. Until when you go back? One hour later. So one is the hottest time. After this point, no part of my body should be exposed anymore. Meanwhile, since its initial analysis, NASA has recently released a new version of its satellite software, leading to the speculation that land surface temperatures in the Lut Desert could be even higher now. As researches from the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society and Academic Journal pointed out in their publication in May 2021, it is thought that temperatures in Lut Desert could actually reach as high as 80.8°C or 177.4°F. We left to meet on the console of the car and set off. Our time and resources are limited so we have to be fast and organized. There is no shadow anywhere. Everywhere is covered with large and small stones and basaltic rocks. These stones are so hot that no hand can resist holding them. It looks like hell. A huge area, more like the surface of Mars than Earth greeted us. We feel like we have stepped on another planet. We came to the hottest spot on our planet. I can't believe it. I don't know how long we can last here. It's very hot everywhere. I can feel the heat under my feet. There is no place where I can take a step that's not black. And the black stones are literally burning now. You see the mountains? These mountains actually go further. Look, the place over there looks like it's on fire. I don't know if you see the heat rising from the ground. Since it's surrounded by mountains, mountains trap the hot air down here and the hot air cannot get out. The color of the rocks and the basalt structure naturally absorbs the sun's heat more. The place is like hell. Now let's take a walk and measure the temperature. The high temperature of the dry surface absorbs all the endurance and strength of a person as he or she takes a step. Even plants like cactus don't grow here at all. It is stated in many sources that no living thing can live on this place. It is estimated that these basalt remnants were formed as a result of magnetic activity that took place about 2 million years ago. And pores were formed in the stones as a result of gas release in the lava. We are about to unofficially measure one of the highest temperatures ever measured on earth. Leaving a person alone here means his or her death. If our friends leave us, there is no way we can get out of here. We are in a place that is completely contrary to human nature. There are many articles that say that no creature lives in Gandomberyan. We are in the hottest place on earth right now during the hottest period of the season and the hottest hour of the day. I have to utilize my water very carefully. Now I will measure the temperature at a height of 1 meter from the ground and this measurement has to be done in the shade. That's why we carry an umbrella with us. This is not for ourselves. There is wind here but just because it's windy doesn't mean it's cool at all since the wind blows like fire. I can feel scorching heat all over my body right now. My hand is burning. The camera is black, you know. Every metal place we touch is like it's on fire. There is a reason this umbrella isn't black. I want this measurement to be fair. My feet are like on fire, really. When you stand in a place and wait a little, the feeling of warmth increases. First, let's measure the temperature on the ground. It gives an error. Yes, it can measure the temperature but it cannot be under the heat. We are going to keep the thermometer next to cold water, cool it down a bit and try again. I tried to provide the shade for about a minute to make a fair measure. I can't even speak. This isn't working anyway. It doesn't show anything. It says iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it. Now we are going to measure the temperature under the sun because we don't have any shade here. That's the temperature we feel. Nowhere to hide. The sun mercilessly sears with beams. I have trouble speaking and I have a terrible headache here. It shows the air temperature 54.1 degrees Celsius or 129.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Let's measure the surface temperature with this. Guys, it is 30 minutes in. We are fine. Roger that. Is everything okay there? Everything is okay here. But the temperature is still getting high and high. I can feel the intensity of the sun above me in all its fury. I can feel my heart rate increasing. I'm shaking. After spending an hour our bodies began to tremble. I'm tired. I have no more energy. I have to pause a lot. Water, water break. The camera got so hot that I can't hold it for three seconds without gloves. Everything metal is scorching right now. Did you take your gloves off? My hand is shaking. But the place where I touch the camera is red and hurting. So bright without glasses. I can never walk like this. I am going to try something different now. Error. It says error. When I put it inside, it says error. Oh my God. I have to put on my gloves. It's working. Come here. 68.6 degrees Celsius. 69.2 degrees Celsius. We are getting pretty close to what NASA had measured. Is this a sandstorm? There are very frequent storms here. There was a sandstorm just around here. We were filming it. I couldn't reply to you. Now let's take a look at the temperature of this. It doesn't work. This is also broken. Yes, this tip can withstand the heat but this part where the mechanism is located was also on the ground. I guess it is broken because of the heat. Not durable. Gone. Laser thermometer gives an error. Doesn't work. The liquid from the mercury thermometer stuck to the top. The immersion thermometer is also broken. Shall we walk? I am scorching. Haven't your feet got burned? Yes, they have. Considering that a cup of tea or coffee is served at around 70 degrees Celsius it is not difficult to guess what the result of stepping on the ground barefoot will be. On 23rd of June we measured the surface temperature of 69.2 degrees Celsius or 156.5 degrees Fahrenheit the air temperature of 48.5 degrees Celsius or 119.3 degrees Fahrenheit and under the sun the air temperature of 54.1 degrees Celsius or 129.3 degrees Fahrenheit. I left the phone on the ground if you remember. When I picked it up from the ground I saw that the cheap plastic on its edges was burned but the middle bottom is fine. When I put it on the ground the bottom side stayed up a little bit. The edges touched to the stone. You see this side is burned too. We encounter something we never expected to see. The claim that there are no living things here does not reflect the truth. I have experienced it here for the first time. It's June and it's around 2 pm and you see a subspecies of Eremifila. It is also known as the praying mantis among the people. Also I keep forgetting it. How is the meat? I put a slice of meat there. The front is kind of cooked. The back seems better. It's so hot it's like I'm taking it out of the pan. It also smells like it's cooked. The middle needs to stay a little longer. This is how much it can get cooked in 2 hours. This is a surprise for you? Yes, I'm surprised. So we are debunking a myth then. Animals actually do live in Gandanberga. Our desert expedition shows that melting car videos circulating on the internet during summer are also fictional. Even here, car parts cannot melt in a day. They may melt only in a week. So the first minute, because the vehicle is so hot as you see, my hand is burned. I brought some gloves here to touch the steering wheel for the first 5 minutes. We will go out of here as soon as possible. And we are at the end of a very hard documentary episode. Ruhi Cennet was here.