Extremes on Earth: Difference between revisions

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This article describes extreme locations on Earth. Entries listed in bold are world records.

Extreme elevations and temperatures per continent

Continent	Elevation (height above sea level)		Temperature (recorded)
Continent	Highest	Lowest	Highest	Lowest
Africa	5,895 metres (19,340 feet) Kilimanjaro, Tanzania	−156 metres (−512 feet) Lake Asal, Djibouti	51.0 °C Aswan, Egypt	−23.9 °C (−11.0 °F) Ifrane, Morocco 11 February 1935
America, North	6,194 metres (20,320 feet) Mount McKinley (Denali), Alaska, U.S.A.	−86 metres (−282 feet) Death Valley, California, U.S.A.	53.9 °C (134.0 °F) Death Valley, California, U.S.A. 31 July 2005	−63.0 °C (−81.4 °F) Snag, Yukon, Canada 3 February 1947
America, North		−86 metres (−282 feet) Death Valley, California, U.S.A.		−66 °C (−87 °F) Northice, Greenland 9 January 1954
America, South	File:Aconcagua - Argentina - January 2005 - by Sergio Schmiegelow.jpg 6,962 metres (22,841 feet) Aconcagua, Mendoza, Argentina	−105 metres (−344 feet) Laguna del Carbón, Argentina	49.1 °C Villa de Maria, Argentina 11 December 1905	−39.0 °C Valle del Pato Superior, Argentina
Antarctica	4,897 metres (16,066 feet) Vinson Massif	−2,555 meters (−8,383 feet) Bentley Subglacial Trench (under ice)	19.8 °C Signy Island 5 January 1974	−89.2 °C Vostok 21 July 1983
Asia	8,848 metres (29,028 feet) Mount Everest, Nepal - Tibet, China ^[A]	−418 metres (−1,371 feet) Dead Sea shore, Israel - Jordan	53.7 °C (128.7 °F) Tirat Tzvi, Israel 21 June 1942	−67.8 °C (−90.0 °F) Measured Verkhoyansk, Siberia, Russia 7 February 1892 ^[1]
Asia		−418 metres (−1,371 feet) Dead Sea shore, Israel - Jordan	53.7 °C (128.7 °F) Tirat Tzvi, Israel 21 June 1942	−71.2 °C (−96.16 °F) Extrapolated Oymyakon, Siberia, Russia 26 January 1926 ^[2]
Australia	File:P1010300.JPG 2,228 metres (7,310 feet) Mount Kosciuszko, New South Wales	−12 metres (−52 feet) Lake Eyre, South Australia	53.1 °C (128.0 °F) Cloncurry, Queensland 16 January 1889 ^[B]	−23.0 °C (−10.4 °F) Charlotte Pass, New South Wales 29 June 1994
Europe	5,642 metres (18,506 feet) Mount Elbrus, Russia	−28 metres (−92 feet) Caspian Sea shore, Russia	48.5 °C Catenanuova, Sicily (region), Italy August 1999	−56.0 °C Pechora, Russia February 1948
Oceania	4,884 metres (16,023 feet) Carstensz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya), New Guinea	Sea level	42.4 °C (108.3 °F) Awatere Valley and Rangiora, New Zealand 7 February 1973	−21.6 °C (−6.9 °F) Ophir, New Zealand 3 July 1995
Bold entries are Earth-wide extremes.
[A]: Height above sea level is the usual choice of definition for elevation. In terms of the point farthest away from the centre of the Earth, Chimborazo in Ecuador (6,267 m) can be considered the planet's most extreme high point. This is due to the Earth's oblate spheroid shape, with points near the Equator being farther out from the centre than those at the poles. [B]: The temperature of 53.1 °C (128.0 °F) was recorded under non-standard exposure conditions and is therefore not considered official. The highest temperature in Australia recorded under standard exposure conditions is 50.7 °C (123.3 °F) on 2 January 1960 in Oodnadatta, South Australia. Transcript of report on the highest temperature

Greatest vertical drop

Greatest purely vertical drop	1,250 metres (4,100 feet) Mount Thor, Auyuittuq National Park, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada
Greatest nearly vertical drop	File:Trango Towers Pakistan.jpg 1,340 metres (4,400 ft) Great Trango Tower, Pakistan (summit elevation 6,286 metres/20,608 feet)

See also List of mountains and Seven Summits.

Subterranea

Deepest mine	3,581 metres (11,748 feet) East Rand Mine, South Africa
Deepest cave	2,140 metres (7,021 feet) Voronya Cave, Arabika Massif, Abkhazia, Georgia.
Deepest pitch (single vertical drop)	603 metres (1,978 feet) Vrtoglavica Cave, Slovenia

See also List of caves.

Greatest oceanic depths

Atlantic Ocean	8,648 metres (28,374 feet) Milwaukee Deep, Puerto Rico Trench
Arctic Ocean	5,450 metres (17,881 feet) Litke Deep, Eurasia Basin
Indian Ocean	8,047 metres (26,401 feet) Diamantina Deep, Diamantina Trench, South East Indian Basin
Mediterranean Sea	5,267 metres (17,280 feet) Calypso Deep, Ionian Basin
Pacific Ocean	10,924 metres (35,840 feet) Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench
Southern Ocean	7,235 metres (23,690 feet) South Sandwich Trench (southernmost portion, at 60°S)
Bold entry is an Earth-wide extreme.

Coldest and hottest inhabited places on Earth

Hottest inhabited place	Dallol, Ethiopia average temperature is 34 °C (93.2 °F)
Coldest inhabited place	Eureka, Nunavut, Canada daily average temperature is −19.7 °C (−3.46 °F) ^[3]

Northern and southernmost points of land on Earth

Northernmost point on Earth	Kaffeklubben Island, east of Greenland (83°40′N 29°50′W / 83.667°N 29.833°W / 83.667; -29.833) Various shifting gravel bars lie further north, the most famous being Oodaaq
Southernmost point on Earth	The geographic South Pole

External links

References

[1] Average conditions for Verkhoyansk from the BBC

[2] Life Is a Chilling Challenge in Subzero Siberia from the National Geographic

[3] Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000 - Eureka

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 <tr><th>Highest</th><th>Lowest</th><th>Highest</th><th>Lowest</th></tr>
-<tr><th>[[Africa]]</th><td>[[Image:Kilimanjaro01.jpg|right|100px]]5,895 metres (19,340 feet)<br>[[Kilimanjaro]], [[Tanzania]]</td><td>&minus;156 metres (&minus;512 feet)<br>[[Lake Asal (Djibouti)|Lake Asal]], [[Djibouti]]</td><td>'''57.7 °C  (135.9 °F)<br>[[Al 'Aziziyah]], [[Libya]]<br>[[13 September]] [[1922]]'''</td><td>&minus;23.9 °C (&minus;11.0 °F)<br>[[Ifrane]], [[Morocco]]<br>[[11 February]] [[1935]]</td></tr>
+<tr><th>[[Africa]]</th><td>[[Image:Kilimanjaro01.jpg|right|100px]]5,895 metres (19,340 feet)<br>[[Kilimanjaro]], [[Tanzania]]</td><td>&minus;156 metres (&minus;512 feet)<br>[[Lake Asal (Djibouti)|Lake Asal]], [[Djibouti]]</td><td>'''51.0 °C  <br>[[Aswan]], [[Egypt]]<br>'''</td><td>&minus;23.9 °C (&minus;11.0 °F)<br>[[Ifrane]], [[Morocco]]<br>[[11 February]] [[1935]]</td></tr>
-<tr><th rowspan="2">[[North America|America, North]]</th><td rowspan="2">[[Image:Denali_Mt_McKinley.jpg|right|100px]]6,194 metres (20,320 feet)<br>[[Mount McKinley]] (Denali), [[Alaska]], [[U.S.A.]]</td><td rowspan="2">&minus;86 metres (&minus;282 feet)<br>[[Death Valley]], [[California]], [[U.S.A.]]</td><td rowspan="2">56.7 °C  (134.0 °F)<br>[[Death Valley]], [[California]], [[U.S.A.]]<br>[[10 July]] [[1913]]</td><td>&minus;63.0 °C (&minus;81.4 °F)<br>[[Snag, Yukon|Snag]], [[Yukon]], [[Canada]]<br>[[3 February]] [[1947]]</td></tr>
+<tr><th rowspan="2">[[North America|America, North]]</th><td rowspan="2">[[Image:Denali_Mt_McKinley.jpg|right|100px]]6,194 metres (20,320 feet)<br>[[Mount McKinley]] (Denali), [[Alaska]], [[U.S.A.]]</td><td rowspan="2">&minus;86 metres (&minus;282 feet)<br>[[Death Valley]], [[California]], [[U.S.A.]]</td><td rowspan="2">53.9 °C  (134.0 °F)<br>[[Death Valley]], [[California]], [[U.S.A.]]<br>[[31 July]] [[2005]]</td><td>&minus;63.0 °C (&minus;81.4 °F)<br>[[Snag, Yukon|Snag]], [[Yukon]], [[Canada]]<br>[[3 February]] [[1947]]</td></tr>
 <tr><td>&minus;66 °C (&minus;87 °F)<br>Northice, [[Greenland]]<br>[[9 January]] [[1954]]</td></tr>
-<tr><th>[[South America|America, South]]</th><td>[[Image:Aconcagua - Argentina - January 2005 - by Sergio Schmiegelow.jpg|right|100px]]6,962 metres (22,841 feet)<br>[[Aconcagua]], [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]], [[Argentina]]</td><td>&minus;105 metres (&minus;344 feet)<br>[[Laguna del Carbón]], [[Argentina]]</td><td>48.9 °C (120.0 °F)<br>[[Rivadavia]], [[Argentina]]<br>[[11 December]] [[1905]]</td><td>&minus;33.0 °C (&minus;27.4 °F)<br>[[Sarmiento, Chubut|Sarmiento]], [[Argentina]]<br>[[1 June]] [[1907]]</td></tr>
+<tr><th>[[South America|America, South]]</th><td>[[Image:Aconcagua - Argentina - January 2005 - by Sergio Schmiegelow.jpg|right|100px]]6,962 metres (22,841 feet)<br>[[Aconcagua]], [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]], [[Argentina]]</td><td>&minus;105 metres (&minus;344 feet)<br>[[Laguna del Carbón]], [[Argentina]]</td><td>49.1 °C <br>[[Villa de Maria]], [[Argentina]]<br>[[11 December]] [[1905]]</td><td>&minus;39.0 °C <br>[[Valle del Pato Superior]], [[Argentina]]<br></td></tr>
-<tr><th>[[Antarctica]]</th><td>[[Image:Vinson Massif from space.jpg|right|100px]]4,897 metres (16,066 feet)<br>[[Vinson Massif]]</td><td>'''&minus;2,555 meters (&minus;8,383 feet)<br>[[Bentley Subglacial Trench]]''' (under ice)</td><td>14.6 °C (58.3 °F)<br>[[Vanda Station]]<br>[[5 January]] [[1974]]</td><td>'''&minus;89.2 °C (&minus;128.6 °F)<br>[[Vostok, Antarctica|Vostok]]<br>[[21 July]] [[1983]]'''</td></tr>
+<tr><th>[[Antarctica]]</th><td>[[Image:Vinson Massif from space.jpg|right|100px]]4,897 metres (16,066 feet)<br>[[Vinson Massif]]</td><td>'''&minus;2,555 meters (&minus;8,383 feet)<br>[[Bentley Subglacial Trench]]''' (under ice)</td><td>19.8 °C <br>[[Signy Island]]<br>[[5 January]] [[1974]]</td><td>'''&minus;89.2 °C <br>[[Vostok, Antarctica|Vostok]]<br>[[21 July]] [[1983]]'''</td></tr>
-<tr><th rowspan="2">[[Asia]]</th><td rowspan="2">[[Image:Sagarmatha ck Oct18 2002.jpg|right|100px]]'''8,848 metres (29,028 feet)<br>[[Mount Everest]], [[Nepal]] - [[Tibet]], [[China]]''' <sup>[A]</sup>'''</td><td rowspan="2">&minus;418 metres (&minus;1,371 feet)<br>[[Dead Sea]] shore, [[Israel]] - [[Jordan]]'''</td><td rowspan="2">53.9 °C  (129.0 °F)<br>[[Tirat Tzvi]], [[Israel]]<br>[[21 June]] [[1942]]</td><td>&minus;67.8 °C (&minus;90.0 °F)<small> Measured</small><br>[[Verkhoyansk]], [[Siberia]], [[Russia]]<br>[[7 February]] [[1892]] <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT004630 Average conditions for Verkhoyansk from the BBC]</ref></td></tr>
+<tr><th rowspan="2">[[Asia]]</th><td rowspan="2">[[Image:Sagarmatha ck Oct18 2002.jpg|right|100px]]'''8,848 metres (29,028 feet)<br>[[Mount Everest]], [[Nepal]] - [[Tibet]], [[China]]''' <sup>[A]</sup>'''</td><td rowspan="2">&minus;418 metres (&minus;1,371 feet)<br>[[Dead Sea]] shore, [[Israel]] - [[Jordan]]'''</td><td rowspan="2">53.7 °C  (128.7 °F)<br>[[Tirat Tzvi]], [[Israel]]<br>[[21 June]] [[1942]]</td><td>&minus;67.8 °C (&minus;90.0 °F)<small> Measured</small><br>[[Verkhoyansk]], [[Siberia]], [[Russia]]<br>[[7 February]] [[1892]] <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT004630 Average conditions for Verkhoyansk from the BBC]</ref></td></tr>
 <tr><td>&minus;71.2 °C (&minus;96.16 °F)<small> Extrapolated</small><br>[[Oymyakon]], [[Siberia]], [[Russia]]<br>[[26 January]] [[1926]] <ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/05/0512_040512_tvoymyakon.html Life Is a Chilling Challenge in Subzero Siberia from the National Geographic]</ref></td></tr>
 <tr><th>[[Australia]]</th><td>[[Image:P1010300.JPG|right|100px]] 2,228 metres (7,310 feet)<br>[[Mount Kosciuszko]], [[New South Wales]]</td><td>&minus;12 metres (&minus;52 feet)<br>[[Lake Eyre]], [[South Australia]]</td><td>53.1 °C (128.0 °F)<br>[[Cloncurry, Queensland]]<br>[[16 January]] [[1889]] <sup>[B]</sup></td><td>&minus;23.0 °C (&minus;10.4 °F)<br>[[Charlotte Pass, New South Wales]]<br>[[29 June]] [[1994]]</td></tr>
-<tr><th>[[Europe]]</th><td>[[Image:Albours.jpg|right|100px]]5,642 metres (18,506 feet)<br>[[Mount Elbrus]], [[Russia]]</td><td>&minus;28 metres (&minus;92 feet)<br>[[Caspian Sea]] shore, [[Russia]]</td><td>50.0 °C  (122.0 °F)<br>[[Seville]], [[Sevilla (province)]], [[Spain]]<br>[[4 August]] [[1881]]</td><td>&minus;55.0 °C (&minus;67.0 °F)<br>[[Ust-Shchugor]], [[Russia]]<br>January (no exact date available)</td></tr>
+<tr><th>[[Europe]]</th><td>[[Image:Albours.jpg|right|100px]]5,642 metres (18,506 feet)<br>[[Mount Elbrus]], [[Russia]]</td><td>&minus;28 metres (&minus;92 feet)<br>[[Caspian Sea]] shore, [[Russia]]</td><td>48.5 °C  <br>[[Catenanuova]], [[Sicily (region)]], [[Italy]]<br>[[August]] [[1999]]</td><td>&minus;56.0 °C <br>[[Pechora]], [[Russia]]<br>February 1948</td></tr>
 <tr><th>[[Oceania]]</th><td>[[Image:Puncak Jaya icecap 1972.jpg|right|100px]]4,884 metres (16,023 feet)<br>[[Carstensz Pyramid]] (Puncak Jaya), [[New Guinea]]</td><td>[[Sea level]]</td><td>42.4 °C (108.3 °F)<br>[[Awatere River|Awatere Valley]] and [[Rangiora, New Zealand|Rangiora]], [[New Zealand]]<br>[[7 February]] [[1973]]</td><td>&minus;21.6 °C (&minus;6.9 °F)<br>[[Ophir, New Zealand|Ophir]], [[New Zealand]]<br>[[3 July]] [[1995]]</td></tr>