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The list of the world's most dangerous beaches says our biggest worry should be . . . Getting struck by lightning???
Usually the worst thing you have to worry about at the beach is seeing an old, hairy guy in a Speedo. But there are much worse things according to a new "Forbes" list of the world's most dangerous beaches. Here's what you should worry about . . .
--SHARK ATTACKS. At New Smyrna Beach in Florida, humans and sharks made contact 112 times last year. 17 of those incidents led to a shark bite . . . and one person died.
--POLLUTION. Hacks Point Beach in Maryland (--across the Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore) and Beachwood Beach West in New Jerseyhad the highest percentage of polluted water. 60% of the water samples taken at these beaches violated public health standards.
--JELLYFISH ATTACKS. 40 people a year are hospitalized along the coast of Northern Australia after being stung by box jellyfish. Even though the venom in a jellyfish sting can stop your heart in five minutes . . . fatalities are pretty rare.
--BOATING ACCIDENTS. The U.S. Coast Guard found that, in 2006, all the beaches in Florida combined reported 633 boating accidents that resulted in 68 deaths. That's the highest amount of any state.
--RIP TIDE DROWNING. 10 people died last year in Brevard County, Florida (30 miles east of Orlando) as a result of strong rip currents. That's more than any other county in the U.S.
--LIGHTNING STRIKES. Surprisingly, more Florida beachgoers DIE from being struck by lightning than drowning or shark bites. Between 1997 and 2006, lightning strikes killed 71 people.
(Yahoo! News / Forbes)
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