Dasht-e Lut

Photo

by Wojciech Kocot

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Dasht-e Lut, also known as the Lut Desert, is a vast salt desert located in southeastern Iran. It is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth, with surface temperatures having been recorded as high as 159.3 degrees Fahrenheit (70.7 degrees Celsius). The desert spans an area of approximately 51,800 square kilometers and features some of the most dramatic and varied landscapes, including towering sand dunes, salt plains, and unique rock formations known as yardangs. This inhospitable environment is largely uninhabited, but it attracts scientists and adventurers who are fascinated by its extreme conditions and unique geological features.