China’s “Flaming Mountains,” Where Some Of Earth’s Highest Temperatures Have Been Recorded
Clemson/FlickrA camel in front of China’s Flaming Mountains.
One ancient legend holds that the Huoyan Mountains of China, better known as the “Flaming Mountains,” were created when a Monkey King knocked over a kiln of the gods and spilled embers from the heavens down onto the Earth. Another legend has it that the Flaming Mountains were formed after a mythic hero slayed a child-eating dragon. The dragon’s blood must have run as hot as its fire, because the Flaming Mountains are one of the hottest places in the world.
Located in Xinjiang, in the northwestern part of the country, the Flaming Mountains have drawn thrill seekers and admirers for years. Also called kiziltag, which means “Red Mountain,” the mountain range is so named because of its fiery red color. In fact, at certain times of the day, when the Sun hits the natural trenches and red sandstone of the Flaming Mountains in just the right way, they appear to have been set ablaze, creating what looks like an enormous wall of fire that dwarfs any passersby.
But that’s not the only reason people flock to this site, one of the hottest places on Earth.
zhanyoun/Wikimedia CommonsThe giant thermometer at the Flaming Mountains in China draws tourists who gawk at its stunning temperature display.
The Flaming Mountains are of course also known for their extreme temperatures. The land surface temperature (LST) at the site in 2023 was a whopping 176 degrees Fahrenheit (for context, the average surface temperature on Earth is 59 degrees Fahrenheit), which some say is the all-time record in its category. Meanwhile, air temperature is what’s generally used to asses the hottest places in the world.
In any event, rather than deter visitors, the Flaming Mountains’ extreme heat has actually drawn people to the site.
In fact, there’s a 40-foot thermometer at the Flaming Mountains that proudly displays the day’s real-time land surface temperatures. Tourists, wearing brimmed hats and holding umbrellas, frequently take selfies with the thermometer, which is built like a giant sundial.
But though the Flaming Mountains are blazing in the summer, the area gets freezing in the winter. Either way, the mountains’ famous thermometer is sure to display some incredible numbers.
