Most EXTREME Environments on Earth HD

From a volcano that hasn’t stopped erupting for three decades … the the coldest, windiest, and hottest places on the planet … Here are 19 of the most extreme environments on Earth! Subscribe to Talltanic http://goo.gl/wgfvrr #8 McMurdo Dry Valleys We’ve mentioned a number of desert environments on our list. But would it be a surprise to find out that the driest location in the world is actually in one of the coldest spots on the planet? The McMurdo Dry Valleys are located in Antarctica, west of McMurdo Sound. It is actually one of the most extreme deserts in the world, and even contains a lake and a river. But that’s about the only water you’ll find here. The valleys stretch for some 1,900 miles and are free of snow and ice. That effect is due in part to high, freezing winds that can blast at around 200 miles per hour. That kept the area so dry that some experts say the area has not received a single drop of rain in some 14 million years. #7 Dasht-e-Lut, Iran The world’s 27th largest desert, the Dasht-e-Lut is located in Iran. Along with the Atacama Desert in Chile, it’s one of the driest regions in the world. It’s also one of the hottest. Experts say that from 2003 to 2010, the plateau recorded the highest land surface temperatures in the world, exceeding 159 degrees F. That intense heat, coupled with the extreme dryness, means that no creature (not even bacteria) can survive in the vast central expanse. #6 Dallol, Ethiopia As sea level drop, temperatures rise. Such is the case in Dallol, located in northern Ethiopia. Located around 430 feet below sea level, it has an average annual temperature of 95 degrees F. That gives it the current official record for the highest average temperature of an inhabited area. Year round, this is the hottest place in the world -- temperature wise, anyway. #5 Danakil Depression Here’s another location where the heat can beat you. The Danakil Depression in Africa is one of the lowest spots in the world, descending more than 400 feet below sea level. Because of that, the triangular formation is also one of the world’s hottest locations year round. Measuring around 124 by 31 miles, the area receives little to no rainfall. The unusual environment has produced landscapes that appear to come from another world … So much so that areas like the sulphur springs at Dallol are being researched to see how life might evolve on different worlds. Two active volcanoes are located to the south, one of which (Erta Ale) has lava percolating up from the Earth’s mantle. #4 Salar de Uyuni Bolivia Flattest Place This location in Bolivia comprises nearly 5,000 square miles, making it’s the world’s largest salt flat -- and about the size of Jamaica. It’s one of the flattest places found on the planet … and some sources say it’s THE flattest place. That makes it an ideal location for Earth observation satellites to calibrate their altimeters. Experts say that around 10 billion tons of salt can be f