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Air: hottest place in the world - Lut desert, Iran

167 images Created 25 Feb 2021

Hot ground.

NASA’s satellites surveys from 2003 to 2010 testify that the hottest land surface temperature on Earth is located in the incredible Lut desert in Iran.
On this scientific expedition, the surface of the sand was measured at 78.2 °C (172.8°F), the highest ever recorded.
The Lut desert host flora and unusual adaptable fauna such as lizards and foxes, which scientists are currently studying.
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  • Morning sunrise over the sand dunes in the Lut Desert.
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  • Details of the fangs. One of the rare snake found in the desert, a venomous viper called Echis Carinaturs. It is the smallest member of the big four snakes that are responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths, due to various factors including their frequent occurrence in highly populated regions, and their inconspicuous nature.
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  • The scientific team at the hottest place recorded in 2005 by Nasa's satellite.
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  • Pushing a 4x4 that got stuck in sand.
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  • Two drivers with glasses to protect them from blasting sand.
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  • A driver fixing a tire by injecting flammable gaz and setting it on fire. The explosion resets the tire in the wheel.
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  • Place called Rig-e Sitora.
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  • A guide takes a sand bath in the Lut desert.
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  • A PHD student and phytochemist getting water sample from a seasonal pond in the early morning.
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  • A botanist closing tight the Herbarium by standing on it.
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  • Detail of a desert bird called Shrike,  a carnivorous passerine birds of the family Laniidae.
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  • Archaeozoologist and bioarchaeologist looking lepidopterologist showing the way.
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  • The expedition 4 x 4 cars getting deeper into the heart of the Lut desert, following Yardangs, sharp irregular ridges of sand lying in the direction of the prevailing wind in exposed desert regions, formed by the wind erosion of adjacent material which is less resistant.
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  • A lizard in the desert. Its feet and body are propped up away from the ground, to reduce heat. Eremias acutorostris, commonly known as the Point-snouted Racerunner.
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  • One of the driver sleeping next to all the traditional iranian flat bread that wil be eaten during the expedition.
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  • The lepidopterologist holds a mouse that has been infected by ticks.
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  • Archaeozoologist and bioarchaeologist looking at camel bones.
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  • Orobanche (broomrape or broom-rape) is a genus of over 200 species of parasitic herbaceous plants. Here a yellow specimen growing off the root of a tree.
    DSCF6547.jpg
  • Team of botanist and hydologists getting ground temperature. During this expedition, the team measured an incredible surface temperature of 78.2°C (172.7°F).
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  • The expedition 4 x 4 cars getting deeper into the heart of the Lut desert.
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  • Insect trap is set at night by the lepidopterologist.
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  • Chief of camp. Night shot of nomad camp on edge of Lut Desert.
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  • Men and women having breakfast in the morning in their nomadic tent on the edge of the Lut Desert.
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  • A lone tree in the desert.
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  • Cloud of dust as the expedition drives into the desert.
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  • Botanist and lepidopterologist getting water sample in a wetland made of saline mud. The wetter area is very soft, so they must roll on the ground so they don't sink in quicksand.
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  • Caught by the Herpetologist, a gecko is lit with a headlight. It uses its tongue to clear his eyeballs of sand.
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  • The expedition and logistic leader laughing as we get lost.
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  • Team member shower with water spray to reduce water use.
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  • The isabelline wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina) is a small passerine bird. It is a migratory insectivorous bird. It is one of the rare bird found in the desert.
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  • Place name Rig-e Sitora, with displays of Yardangs, sharp irregular ridges of sand lying in the direction of the prevailing wind in exposed desert regions, formed by the wind erosion of adjacent material which is less resistant.
    IMG_8510.jpg
  • Place name Rig-e Sitora, with displays of Yardangs, sharp irregular ridges of sand lying in the direction of the prevailing wind in exposed desert regions, formed by the wind erosion of adjacent material which is less resistant.
    DSCF7963.jpg
  • An expedition 4 x 4 car going down a huge dune.
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  • The Herpetologist setting up a fox trap at night with a camera trigger.
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  • Insect trap is set at night by the lepidopterologist.
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  • Archaeozoologist and bioarchaeologist looking at camel bones.
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  • A lizard collected by the Herpetologist. Eremias acutorostris, commonly known as the Point-snouted Racerunner.
    DSCF4966.jpg
  • The scientific team looking at an impermanent river.
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  • The Ornithologist looking for birds near an impermanent river.
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  • The archeologist looking at a Qanat (traditional well).
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  • Used for shade, an old wooden structure near a Qanat (traditional well).
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  • The scientific team look at the water exiting from an underground Qanat (traditional well).
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  • The scientific team look at the water exiting from an underground Qanat (traditional well).
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  • One of the car is stuck in a seasonal river.
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  • The archeologist jumps over a seasonal river.
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  • Detail of the desert ground. During this expedition, the team measured an incredible surface temperature of 78.2°C (172.7°F), the highest ever measured.
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  • On teh edge of the desert, an old Land mark used to show the way to caravans. Mil-e Baluchan is the place name.
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  • A lepidopterologist collecting insects with a self-made insect catcher.
    DSCF5456.jpg
  • One of the rare snake found in the desert, a venomous viper called Echis Carinaturs. It is the smallest member of the big four snakes that are responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths, due to various factors including their frequent occurrence in highly populated regions, and their inconspicuous nature.
    DSCF5627.jpg
  • Insect trap is set at night by the lepidopterologist.
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  • At night, a common mouse is captured by the herpetologist.
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  • Catching insects on a trap set at night by the lepidopterologist.
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  • Morning sunrise over the sand dunes in the Lut Desert.
    DSCF5796.jpg
  • Morning sunrise over the sand dunes in the Lut Desert.
    DSCF5809.jpg
  • Morning sunrise over the sand dunes in the Lut Desert.
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  • A breakfast of sweet tea with the team.
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  • Insect collection from the lepidopterologist, including golden lady bugs and other endemic species.
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  • The lepidopterologist catching water bugs in a seasonal lake.
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  • Tiny fish found in a seasonal lake.
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  • A member of the expedition catching small insect in a seasonal lake.
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  • A botanist getting seeds from a tree.
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  • View from the car carrying the Botanists.
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  • View from the car carrying the Botanists.
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  • The archeologist is numbering stones for cataloging.
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  • The lepidopterologist collecting ticks from a mouse.
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  • The lepidopterologist collects a dragonfly.
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  • Orobanche (broomrape or broom-rape) is a genus of over 200 species of parasitic herbaceous plants. Here a yellow specimen growing off the root of a tree.
    DSCF6179.jpg
  • Sunset over the sand dunes in the Lut Desert.
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  • Caught by the Herpetologist, a gecko is lit with a headlight.
    DSCF6297.jpg
  • Caught by the Herpetologist, a gecko is lit with a headlight. It uses its tongue to clear his eyeballs of sand.
    DSCF6334.jpg
  • The Ornithologist collects birds trapped in his nets. He will take blood sample and then release the birds.
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  • The Ornithologist collects birds trapped in his nets. He will take blood sample and then release the birds.
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  • The botanist digging to take ground temperatures at different depth.
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  • A lunch break of oranges in the middle of the desert.
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  • The archaeozoologist sprays refreshing water on the Ornithologist.
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  • The expedition 4 x 4 cars getting deeper into the heart of the Lut desert.
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  • Self made by a local explorer, this wooden trunk holds a thermometer with historical data.
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  • The hydrologist measures ground temperature at different depth.
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  • The hydrologist checks for ground water which contains high levels of salinity.
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  • The hydrologist checks for ground water which contains high levels of salinity.
    DSCF6810.jpg
  • The expedition 4 x 4 cars getting deeper into the heart of the Lut desert.
    DSCF6931.jpg
  • A PHD student and phytochemist getting water sample from a seasonal pond in the early morning.
    DSCF6985.jpg
  • A PHD student and phytochemist getting water sample from a seasonal pond in the early morning.
    DSCF6987.jpg
  • Gazelle bones. Detail of the desert ground. During this expedition, the team measured an incredible surface temperature of 78.2°C (172.7°F), the highest ever measured.
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  • Archaeozoologist and a A PHD student and phytochemist inspect gazelle bones.
    DSCF7088.jpg
  • The Ornithologist sets up nets to catch birds in the early morning.
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  • The  Ornithologist taking blood sample from a desert bird, for DNA study. Detail of a desert bird called Shrike,  a carnivorous passerine birds of the family Laniidae.
    DSCF7200.jpg
  • A team of geologists are getting core samples of earth in a dry lake. Zang-e Ahmad, place name. Shurgaz Hamun.
    DSCF7226.jpg
  • The expedition 4 x 4 cars getting deeper into the heart of the Lut desert, following Yardangs, sharp irregular ridges of sand lying in the direction of the prevailing wind in exposed desert regions, formed by the wind erosion of adjacent material which is less resistant.
    DSCF7283.jpg
  • Place name Rig-e Sitora, with displays of Yardangs, sharp irregular ridges of sand lying in the direction of the prevailing wind in exposed desert regions, formed by the wind erosion of adjacent material which is less resistant.
    DSCF7394.jpg
  • Place name Rig-e Sitora, with displays of Yardangs, sharp irregular ridges of sand lying in the direction of the prevailing wind in exposed desert regions, formed by the wind erosion of adjacent material which is less resistant.
    DSCF7487.jpg
  • Detail of the desert ground. During this expedition, the team measured an incredible surface temperature of 78.2°C (172.7°F), the highest ever measured.
    DSCF7716.jpg
  • View of a Yardang that looks like a man seen from profile, in a place names Rig-e Sitora.
    DSCF7792.jpg
  • Catching insects on a trap set at night by the lepidopterologist, in a place called Rig-e Sitora. The light trace on the upper right is an insect passing in front of the light during the exposure.
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  • Team sleeping in tents in the early morning.
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  • The Herbarium laud out by the botanist.
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  • Place name Rig-e Sitora, with displays of Yardangs, sharp irregular ridges of sand lying in the direction of the prevailing wind in exposed desert regions, formed by the wind erosion of adjacent material which is less resistant.
    DSCF7919.jpg
  • Place name Rig-e Sitora, with displays of Yardangs, sharp irregular ridges of sand lying in the direction of the prevailing wind in exposed desert regions, formed by the wind erosion of adjacent material which is less resistant.
    DSCF7961.jpg
  • Place name Rig-e Sitora, with displays of Yardangs, sharp irregular ridges of sand lying in the direction of the prevailing wind in exposed desert regions, formed by the wind erosion of adjacent material which is less resistant.
    DSCF7968.jpg
  • Place name Rig-e Sitora, with displays some of the highest dunes in the world.
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