Which location holds the record for the highest recorded air temperature?

The location holding the official record for the highest recorded air temperature is Death Valley, California.

On July 10, 1913, the U.S. Weather Bureau recorded 134°F (56.7°C) at Furnace Creek Ranch, then known as Greenland Ranch. The World Meteorological Organization still recognizes this as the official global air-temperature record.

Death Valley’s extreme heat is amplified by its deep basin, elevations below sea level, clear skies, dry air, and surrounding mountain ranges. These features trap and repeatedly heat descending air. The valley also contains Badwater Basin, North America’s lowest point on land.

The 1913 reading has been questioned by some modern meteorologists because of historical observing practices and inconsistencies in nearby measurements. Even so, the official record remains Death Valley’s. More recent reliable readings include 130°F (54.4°C) at Furnace Creek in 2020 and 2021, but those do not replace the official record.