Hottest place in the world - Motorcyclist dies at 53 degrees in Death Valley:
In parts of the USA, extreme heat is currently prevailing. In the already hot Death Valley – for numerous tourists, this means in the worst case even danger to life. The daily high temperatures in California's Death Valley exceed 50 degrees in these days.
A motorcycle rider paid for it with his life over the weekend. A group of bikers overheated so much that one of them was declared dead on the spot. Several other participants in the group were taken to a hospital in Las Vegas.
Hottest Place on Earth: Death Valley
The Death Valley in the eastern California desert and in Nevada is considered the hottest place on Earth. The measurement at the Greenland Ranch in July 1913 is recognized as a world record. At that time, a legendary 56.7 degrees were measured – a scientist in 2016, however, classified this as meteorologically impossible and suspected a measurement error. The valley of death is 86 meters below sea level and the lowest and driest place in North America.
The shape of the narrow basin plays a significant role in the temperatures, as the steep mountains around it reflect the heat back into the valley. In addition, the clear and dry air and the sparse vegetation cover cause the ground to heat up strongly in the sun. The problem in emergencies: At temperatures above 49 degrees, even helicopters cannot land in the valley.
Most Deaths from Heat
The National Park Service warns on its website about "extreme summer heat" in Death Valley. Temperatures could rise to 54 degrees in the coming days. "Spend as little time as possible outside in the heat. Do not hike before 10 a.m. Drink plenty of water. Travel prepared to survive; cell phones function in most parts of the park hardly at all," the National Park Service advises.
Heat is the weather phenomenon with the highest mortality rates in the United States – according to the National Weather Service, an average of 183 people died from heat in the past 30 years. That's more than from floods and tornados combined. High temperatures can cause cooling mechanisms like sweating to no longer be sufficient and the body to heat up, causing damage to the brain or vital organs. Heat stroke can be fatal.
Millions Exposed to Heat
While the former Hurricane "Beryl" moves over the USA's central region, large parts of the country are baking under the sun and temperatures far above 30 degrees. For the US state of Oregon in the northwest, authorities declared the highest heat alert level. The Atlantic coast of Florida in the south as well as New York and Boston in the north have been experiencing uninterrupted hot weather for days.
Heat waves are common in the USA – especially in Arizona, Nevada, Texas, or Florida. However, scientists see climate change as the driving factor behind the new heat records of recent years. The emitted greenhouse gases cause increasingly intense and frequent extreme weather.
- The motorcyclist's tragic death over the weekend in Death Valley occurs under the current extreme heatwave in the USA.
- The record temperature of 56.7 degrees, measured in Death Valley in 1913, remains controversial, despite its recognition as a world record.
- This weekend's heatwave in Death Valley, which could reach 54 degrees, requires visitors to heed the National Park Service's warnings about avoiding prolonged outdoor activity during the heat.
- The USA experiences the highest mortality rates due to weather-related causes, with an average of 183 heat-related deaths per 30 years, surpassing those from floods and tornadoes combined.
- The ongoing heatwave across the USA, from Oregon in the northwest to Florida in the south, and including New York and Boston, exposes millions to temperatures far exceeding 30 degrees, highlighting theimpact of climate change on extreme weather events.
