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Record Heat: 9 Nations That Topped Their Highest Temperatures This Summer (PHOTOS)

PHOTOS: Total Scorchers -- 9 Nations That Broke Heat Records This Summer
Travis Walter Donovan
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2010 has been dominated by extreme natural phenomena, becoming known as the year of 'global weirding.' Heat waves are just one of the many dramatic forces in weather that have been wreaking havoc across the world, scorching populations from South America to the Middle East.

According to Dr. Jeff Masters, co-founder of Weather Underground, 15 countries have set new records for high temperatures so far this year, and two have matched their prior record.

On his Wunder Blog, Masters writes that even the amount of countries experiencing record temperatures sets a new record, as never has such a large area of the Earth's surface -- 19 percent -- experienced all-time record high temperatures in a single year.

Here are 9 nations that have reached unprecedented sizzling hot temperatures. Check out the full list HERE.

Hottest Record Breaking Countries 2010
Pakistan(01 of09)
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On May 26, Pakistan hit a scorching temperature of 128.3F, which not only set a record for the country but for all of Asia, as well. Pakistan has also been devastated by recent torrential flooding, the worst the country has ever seen, which has claimed over 1,100 lives and submerged one-fifth of the nation. (credit:Getty)
Russia(02 of09)
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On July 11th, Russia reached a record high of 111.2F. Russia suffered its most intense heat wave in 130 years of record keeping this summer, triggering hundreds of wildfires across the nation and doubling Moscow's daily death toll to 700. (credit:AP)
Colombia(03 of09)
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On January 24, Colombia hit a new high of 108F, topping its prior 1988 record of 107.6F. The heat wave spurred an increase in malaria and dengue fever infections, according to Colombia Reports. (credit:Getty File)
Finland(04 of09)
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Finland hit a record high temperature of 99F on July 29, drastically surpassing their old milestone of 95F almost a century ago in 1914. The heat wave in Finland also increased the amount of algae in coastal waters, reports Siku News. (credit:Flickr/Letcombe)
Iraq(05 of09)
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Iraq beat their former 1937 record high temperature by a half-degree at 125.6F on June 14. Al Jazeera reports that Iraq's northern region was inundated with tourists fleeing the oppressive heat in the southern parts of the country during this summer's heat waves. (credit:Getty)
Sudan(06 of09)
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On June 25, Sudan set a new heat record of 121.3F, barely topping their last record from 1987. The country wasn't the only record breaker in Africa this year, as Chad and Niger both beat out their previous records in June, as well, with temperatures reaching over 117F. (credit:AP File)
Cyprus(07 of09)
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Mediterranean island Cyprus set a new record of 115.9F on August 1, beating out its previous 1956 record by 4 degrees. To make matters more uncomfortable, humidity reached 100% in some areas. The government ordered employers to give any workers in direct contact with sunlight a four hour midday break, the Famagusta Gazette reports. (credit:Getty)
Myanmar(08 of09)
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The Southeast Asian country Myanmar set a new record high of 116.6F on May 12, exceeding its previous 1998 record temperature by more than 2 degrees. At least 9 people died as a result of the heat wave before pre-monsoon rains brought relief. (credit:Getty File)
Solomon Islands(09 of09)
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The Solomon Islands in Oceania reached their hottest temperature in history at 97F on February 1. (credit:Flickr/macfanmd)

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