30 photos show what life is like in the hottest inhabited city on earth
Welcome to Mecca, the world's hottest inhabited place.
In Mecca, during the summer, between June and September, temperatures can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and the streets get busy.
Sources: Weather Spark, Britannica
The city has about 1.5 million permanent residents, but more than 2 million pilgrims flood into Mecca for six days for the Hajj every year.
Sources: Al Arabiya, The National, Al Jazeera
The main day of the pilgrimage, which requires worship outside from sunrise to sunset, can be particularly trying.
Source: Forbes
The closest city to Mecca is Jeddah, a seaside port on the Red Sea. It's about 70 miles miles away and requires traveling through the desert to get there.
Source: UNESCO
Mecca's wild temperatures are due to it's location, in a dry valley at the base of the Sirat Mountains ...
Sources: Britannica, Seasons of the Year
... surrounded by the Arabian Desert. Its average annual temperature is 87.3 degrees Fahrenheit, but it's a dry heat.
Sources: Britannica, Seasons of the Year
There's very little greenery, as the view from space shows here. The white structure in the middle is the Great Mosque.
Source: Wikimedia
But the high temperatures are nothing new. Seen here is a pilgrim being given a cold bath to cope with the heat in 1967.
In 1985, a reported 2,000 people got heat stroke, and more than 1,000 of those people ended up dying.
Source: Vox
Dealing with the heat requires preparation. Hotels and some home owners, like the Saudi royalty seen here, have air conditioning.
And one of Mecca's cooler spots is around the Kaaba, one of Islam's most holy objects.
Sources: Khaleej Times, The National
The ground near the Kaaba is made from white Thassos marble, which was imported from Greece. It reflects the sun and heat during the day and remains cool even on hot days. The area also has an abundance of air conditioning.
Sources: Khaleej Times, The National
But people have to go outside. It's common for pilgrims to buy lots of water to help them get through the heat later in the day.
Source: The National
Some have modified them to limit energy use as much as possible.
One man has even created a "smart umbrella," which uses solar energy to power a fan to keep the user cool. It also has a flashlight, a USB outlet to charge phones, and a GPS tracker.
Source: Eco-Business
And whenever there's time for a break, people keep drinking water.
Water is even sprayed into the mouths of those in need.
Since Mecca is in the desert, even during the evening temperatures only drop to about 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sources: My Weather 2, Weather and Climate
For the 1.5 million residents who live there year-round, two of Mecca's main industries are now tourism and construction. Thirteen of 15 of Mecca's old neighborhoods have been rebuilt for tourism and commerce.
Source: The Guardian
Smaller businesses like tour guides, vegetable sellers, and street vendors are struggling to compete with the newly built fast-food chains and hotels.
Source: The Guardian
During the winter, locals can look forward to milder temperatures, with an average high of 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and a low of 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sources: Britannica, My Weather 2
Over the entire year, there is usually fewer than 5 inches of rain.
Sources: Britannica, My Weather 2
Due to the arid, harsh conditions, wild animals and plants aren't abundant. Seen here is a cat sleeping on a mountain.
Other wild animals in the area include wolves, hyenas, foxes, mongooses, and jerboas. There has also been a surge in monkeys in Mount Al-Noor District since weapons used to shoot them were banned.
Sources: Britannica, Al Arabiya
If carbon emissions continue at their current rate, by 2100, Mecca's maximum temperature could soar to 131 degrees Fahrenheit.
Source: Business Insider
If it continues to get hotter, the Hajj may become a physically impossible journey due to heat stress.
Source: Wired
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