Hottest and Coldest

George experiences the most extreme climates in North America. First he visits the hottest place on the continent - Death Valley, then the coldest - Snag, Yukon. Death Valley radiates extreme amounts of heat, creating temperatures that are among the hottest on earth. The hottest temperature ever recorded in the United States was 134 °F (56.7 °C) at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913. The highest average high temperature in July is 116 °F (47 °C) with temperatures of 122 °F (50 °C) or higher being very common. The valley receives less than 2 in (50 mm) of rain annually.We experience Death Valley in the most extreme way possible - with the participants in the world's most extreme running race - the Kiehl's Badwater Ultramarathon - 135 miles uphill in July, with temperatures hovering at about 120 F (49 C!) In the second half of this episode, George will visit Snag, Yukon, which has the dubious distinction of recording the lowest temperature in North America at -62.8° C on 3 February1947.