Yuma (USA) has been reported by the World Meteorological Organization as being the sunniest place on Earth. This is due to it receiving 13 hours of sunlight in the summer, and even 11 hours of it in the winter. However, it does not need to be a warm and sunny place for you to need to use sunscreen, it is also essential for skiers and snowboarders to apply it. This is because the Ultraviolet (UV) rays still pose a risk to them outdoors. So, let us consider a few sunny places where sunscreen is going to be essential.
Oodnadatta
With the record for the highest official temperature recorded in history, Australia’s Oodnadatta is an example of a warm place where sunscreen should be liberally applied.
Oodnadatta can be found in South Australia. The small outback town is remote and located some 873 kilometres north of Adelaide, its capital state. So, not much to do I guess except protect yourself against the sun using a high factor.
California
We think of Sunny California, so let us explore there next. Stretching from the Mexican Border and all along the Pacific for almost 900 miles, California is known for its cliff-lined beaches, its redwood forest, the Central Valley farmland, Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Mojave Desert. Los Angeles, one of its cities, boasts offering true Hollywood entertainment, but then you will not see much sun by exploring all its casinos and movie-related attractions.
For California in general, a broad sunscreen protection is recommended with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 15 or more. It is important to note how sun damage can also happen on cloudier days. So, a broad-brimmed hat, country and western style, and UV-blocking sunglass, detective style, will also assist.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, the summertime UV levels are higher compared to other latitudes within the northern hemisphere. However, in the southern hemisphere exist counties with higher UV levels than New Zealand experience. These include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.
So, New Zealand, along with the other mentioned countries, will require a good sun factor. An SPF 50 as opposed to an SPF 30 would be the most protection that one could obtain. An SPF 30 permits 3 percent of UVB rays to reach your skin, whereas a SPF 50 allows only 2 percent. Using sunscreen at either of these levels will protect even people with the most sensitive skin when it comes to sunburn. Interestingly, New Zealand/Australian standards state that for sunscreen products to be labelled as “broad spectrum”, they need to have a minimum SPF of 8 with a UVA-PF of at least a third of the labelled SPF. It is always best to consult your travel agent to know what sunscreen to take.
Alpe d’Huez
Located in France, Alpe d’Huez is known as the “Island of the Sun”, so this bodes well for some sun as well as skiing action. Its reputation is that the resort receives more days of sunshine than any other ski resort, experiencing around 300 sunny days per year. So, it is important to apply the sun lotion here before venturing out onto the ski slopes. Other sunnier ski resorts include Dolomites, Val di Fassa (Italy), Soldeu (Andorra), Zermatt (Switzerland), and Obergurgl (Austria), to name a few.
Bognor Regis
Enjoying 1,902 hours of sunshine in a year, or certainly the year that it was reported they did, Bognor Regis claims top spot as the sunniest UK resort.
Bognor Regis, in West Sussex, is a seaside resort on England’s south coast. The resort is not just about sun because on the seafront you can also learn about how the tide works and sand is made. For those adventurous individuals or families, sailing and jet skiing are on offer. Do not forget your sunscreen, though, as out on the water you will be completely exposed to the sun that is shining down on you during the many hours it does in Bognor Regis.
So, at least 5 places where sunscreen is essential. In fact, it should be used anywhere there is strong persistent sun, whether it is behind a cloud or not, which is pretty much everywhere. Even Norway has 6 months of sunshine per year.
