~ Top 10 Most Extreme Places on Earth ~

[MysteRy]

1. Lut Desert, Iran - Hottest place



Ranking as the hottest place on earth, the Lut Desert in Iran is one of the worlds 25th largest deserts. The salt desert is about 300 miles long and just over 200 miles wide. The dry place is also 20,000 square miles total. During the spring rain season the water trickles down the Kerman Mountains but dries up almost instantly leaving a trails of rocks, sand and salt. This amazing marvel of Mother Nature supports almost no wildlife. The eastern part of the Lut Desert is a landscape of windblown salt flats in a low plateau region. On the other hand the center of the desert has been carved by the wind into a design of parallel ridges and furrows, extending almost 93 miles and the ridges in some cases reach up to 250 feet high. The desert has skyscraper-like sand dunes that top 1000 feet in height in the southeast end of the Lut Desert.

[MysteRy]

2. Oymyakon, Russia - Coldest inhabited place



Oymyakon is the coldest inhabited place on earth, the remote village in north Russia is three days drive to the nearest city giving new meaning to the word solitary. The grounds surrounding the insanely cold village are permanently frozen. Average temperatures in the summer are 50°F (10°C) at their highest and during the winter they drop below -50°F (-46°C) at their coldest point. In 1934 a Russian scientist claims to have recorded a temperature of -96°F (-71°C). Oymyakon is in the rare part of the world where not only air temperatures are freezing, but the daylight in summer can last 21 hours and during the winter it can last for as few as three hours. The main industries of the isolated village have remained traditional and are, ice fishing, and fur trading. The village is also very far behind in developing to modern standards as the towns school just received its first indoor toilet in 2007.

[MysteRy]

3. Angels Falls, Venezuela - Highest waterfall



Venezuela is home to the highest waterfall in the world, Salto Angel or in English, Angel falls. Its waters plunge at a record demolishing 2,648 feet. The waterfalls name in the ancient Pemon language is "Parakupá Vená" which translated means "the fall from the highest point". The total height of the waterfall is 3,212 feet. The waterfall drops over the edge of the Auyantepui Mountain in the Canaima National Park. At the end of the waters plunge, water flows into the Kerep River, which then flows into another river and so forth. The falls are actually located on a tributary of the Rio Caroni. As the waters fall from the mesa like land above, they spray a mist on all the greenery below and can be seen for miles. During the spring is when the waterfall flows at its peak. The fall is hard to get close to but the effort is well with the rare reward.

[MysteRy]

4. McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica - Driest place



The McMurdo Dry Valleys are the most expansive areas of almost completely ice free places on the Antarctic continent, about 48,000 square km. Found on McMurdo Sound shore south of New Zealand. The valleys are notorious for sharp contrast of ecosystem relative to other ecosystems present in the world and it exists under environmental conditions that are harsh in comparison. The McMurdo Dry Valleys are quite an interesting attraction even amidst all the snow that covers the Antarctic Plateau. The only ice that exists in the Valleys is that of alpine glaciers.  The valley floors lakes are permanently frozen. The unique area of the world is one that dazzles scientists with its complexities and special position on earth. One thing is sure about the valleys - they are a marvel of ever surprising Mother Nature. A visit to the land is like no other because there is no place else like it.

[MysteRy]

5. Marianas Trench, Indonesia and Japan - Lowest point



The true abyss of the world, the Marianas Trench is the lowest point in earths oceans. The bottom of the trench is 35,840 feet below sea level. It is so deep below the waters surface that Mount Everest cannot fill its space and in fact it would still be covered by over one mile of water still. There have only been two people in the world to explore the abyss-like trench and they were Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh. They two ventured down to the bottom 7 miles below and actually made it, bravely enduring the risk of being crushed by 8 tons of water pressure that built that far below. They observed unique species of fish of all shapes and sizes that have adapted to the extreme pressures and the pitch black environment. They also bore witness to new species of shrimp among an amount of other creatures of the deep.

[MysteRy]

6. Mount Everest - Highest peak



Mount Everest is well known for being the highest mountain in the world, made popular by movies and record seekers alike. The Mountain is journeyed by climbers from all around the world that set out hoping to earn the distinct and infamous title of reaching the top of the worlds highest mountain. The peak of Everest is set in heaven at 29,028 feet above sea level. This magnificent height gives Mount Everest the distinction of being the mountain that has the highest altitude on all of earth. The famed mountain is a man eater as well as a place that attracts the most well groomed athletes trying to conquer the grueling climb to the peak of the mountain, which very few people have actually done and usually when someone makes the whole climb, the achievement is recognized throughout the world as miraculous. Giving acknowledgement of how extreme the journey to the top is.

[MysteRy]

7. Tristan de Cunha, UK - Most Remote Island



Tristan de Cunha is the worlds most isolated inhabited place that exists in modern society today. The remote island is over 2000 miles from the nearest continent. Tristan de Cunha is located in the middle of southern Atlantic Ocean and its so little that its main island has no airstrip for even general air traffic; commercial air traffic will most likely never be established. The island is home to only 272 people that share just 8 family names, due to this the inhabitants have a significant amount of hereditary issues, such as asthma and glaucoma. The island was annexed by the United Kingdom in the early 1800s, the islands also has a British postal code. Being 2000 miles from another continent has its downfalls though, while the inhabitants can order things online, it usually takes weeks before things arrive but with that much distance between any other forms of civilization it has to be accepted.

[MysteRy]

8. Mount Waialeale, Hawaii - Wettest Place



Mount Waialeale is one of the worlds shield volcanoes, its also recognized as the wettest place on earth. The volcano is located in the heart of Hawaiis Kauai Island. The height of this massive sleeping giant is 5148 feet, towering to the clouds above the small island. At the peak of the volcano is a convex dome, which flaming lava used to spout from its core. Its the summit of the giant that steals the fame for the wettest place on earth; it can receive up to an average of 450 inches of rainfall every year, which is amazing not just for the massive amount of rain waters but also because that just a few miles from the summit area, there are places that get up to 10 inches less. Due to the measure of rainfall that is received annually the volcano suffers from water erosion, which resulted in the "Little Grand Canyon".

[MysteRy]

9. Dead Sea - Earths lowest elevation



Stealing the spot light for the lowest place on earth is the Dead Sea, which has earths lowest point on dry land. Its surface is some 1385 feet below sea level. The round that circles the Dead Sea happens to be the lowest road in the world, which is shared by Jordan and Israel. Of course, one of the most famous aspects to the Dead Sea is the salinity levels, which is over ten times higher than that of the Mediterranean Sea and is said to be the site of the worlds first health retreat. Due to the high salt content of the waters there are no known species of marine life that can survive in the waters, hence why it was given the morbid name the "Dead Sea". Its a sight of the world holding far more than just one record for its uniqueness that truly merits a special visit.

[MysteRy]

10. Aleutian Islands - Worst Weather



The islands off of the Alaskan coast, which were once held by the Japanese during WWII as a base for munitions, are also the spot that is known throughout the United States for having the worlds worst weather conditions almost daily. The Aleutian Islands, aside from being the only American lands that were occupied during wartime, have the foggiest, rainiest and windiest weather. Those who can tough out the weather find it a playground for extreme sports. Sea Kayaking is one of the popular sports activities. Of course, the conditions for such sports are almost always dangerous but there are those who brave the extreme weather for the thrill with disregard for the impressively rocky shores. Some of the larger islands in the chain make a great spot for extreme backpacking including Attu, Agattu, Kiska, Semisopochnoi, Tanaga, Kanaga, Adak, Kagalaska, Great Sitkin, Atka, Amlia, and Seguam. They offer open country great for this sport.