Properties of H 2 O at elevated pressure and temperature are of fundamental importance in both condensed matter physics and planetary sciences. We studied behavior of H 2 O in externally heated diamond anvil cells (DACs) at pressures up to 50 GPa and temperatures to 1150 K by combining visual observations, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction. The melting curve of H 2 O was found to be well described by the Simon equation P (GPa) = 2.2 + 1.31{[ T (K)/364] 3.3 – 1}. Above 30 GPa and 950 K, using visual observations and Raman spectroscopy, we found an X-ray amorphous phase clearly distinct from liquid H 2 O. The new material reversibly transforms to ice VII and can be obtained on cooling or compression of liquid H 2 O, which suggests that the high-pressure, high-temperature amorphous phase may be thermodynamically stable.