In 2023, Death Valley, California, specifically at Furnace Creek, reaffirmed its reputation as one of the hottest places on the planet. On July 16, 2023, the temperature at Furnace Creek reached a staggering 128°F (53.3°C), making it one of the highest reliably recorded temperatures in modern history. This occurred during a massive heat dome that gripped much of the Southwestern United States. While the all-time world record of 134°F (recorded in the same spot in 1913) remains the official benchmark, the 2023 readings were part of a broader trend of record-breaking global heat. In fact, July 2023 was officially declared the hottest month ever recorded globally by the World Meteorological Organization. Other regions, such as the Lut Desert in Iran and the Turpan Depression in China, also saw extreme surface temperatures, with some satellite data suggesting ground-level heat exceeding 170°F. However, for "air temperature" measured by standardized weather stations, Death Valley’s 2023 peak remains the definitive "hottest" moment of that year, drawing "heat tourists" who traveled to the park specifically to witness the extreme conditions first-hand.