Temperatures in Athens on Tuesday reached 107 degrees Fahrenheit in the second major heat wave that affected much of the European continent. The Acropolis is situated on a hill without any shade, and is known for its punishing heat in the midday sun.

Europe is currently experiencing its first major heatwave of the summer, with cities including Paris, Rome, The Hague, and Barcelona facing temperatures well above the seasonal average. Following a notably dry spring,

PARIS -- Europe sizzled in its first major heat wave of the summer on Tuesday, as Barcelona recorded its hottest June in over a century and the summit of Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors.

Extreme heat in Europe has been blamed for hundreds of deaths, a national monument has been shuttered in Greece and millions of Americans are under heat warnings from the National Weather Service as a scorching July gets underway around the world.

“But of course, you need three days at those temperatures for it to be able to be called a technical heatwave. “So, although the temperature will be reaching the criteria, we probably won’t actually reach an official heatwave until around Friday, to give the three consecutive days at those temperatures.

Europe's continuing heat wave on Wednesday helped fuel a virulent wildfire in a Catalonian national park that has burned over 20,000 acres in the last 24 hours.