Think twice before going there

PanARMENIAN.Net - Playa Zipolite, Mexico

Playa Zipolite has been voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world but one of the deadliest too. Some claim that the word "Zipolite" comes from the indigenous Nahuatl language, and it means "beach of the dead". This small but well-visited stretch of sand, popular with nudists and backpackers, is renowned for its big waves and dangerous rip currents. A volunteer lifeguard team was established in 1995, which has reduced the number of drownings dramatically.

The Red Triangle, California, U.S.

According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), this section of the northern Californian coastline is the location of 11% of all recorded attacks on humans by great white sharks, which are attracted by the large population of marine mammals, including seals, otters and sea lions.

Fraser Island, Australia

Sadly Fraser Island is a forbidden paradise as the seas surrounding are overrun with dangerous jellyfish and sharks. However, people say that big surf and strong currents tend to pose greater risks than sharks or jellyfish. Besides, the island is home to some of the world’s deadliest spiders, large crocodiles and dingoes, which are known to occasionally attack humans.

Kilauea, Hawaii, U.S.

Hawaii is famous for its amazing beaches, big waves, perfect sunbathing weather and dangers as well. Hawaii has numerous volcanoes, with Mt. Kilauea being the most active since 1983. The sand on the Kilauea beach is black from volcanic ash and while it may be a beautiful place to visit, the danger of the volcano erupting still persists. There have also been 102 unprovoked shark attacks in Hawaii - eight of which were fatal - since 1828.

Gansbaai, South Africa

With its great number of white sharks, Gansbaai has become a tourist attraction for adventure seekers. A few miles off the coast lies Shark Alley, a small channel of water between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock. It is home to a colony of around 60,000 fur seals, which attracts swarms of great whites, and subsequently, hordes of camera-weilding tourists in shark-proof cages.

Chowpatty Beach, India

Chowpatty Beach is India’s most famous beach but it is also one of the most polluted in the world too. Every year hundreds of Mumbai residents celebrate the Hindu festival of Ganesha Chaturthi on the beach and it’s a tradition to wash their idols of Lord Ganapati in the sea. Fecal coliform was recorded in the water in 2013 at levels of 1455 per 100 mL, far above the acceptable standard of 500 per 100 mL. The presence of fecal coliform in the water has been attributed to waste from storm drains, open defecation, and the discharge of raw sewage from pipes not connected to the city mains.

Volusia County, Florida, U.S.

Volusia County, Florida According to ISAF, a database for reported shark attacks, more unprovoked shark attacks have taken place off the coast of Volusia County in Florida than in the whole of South Africa - 235 in total, since 1882. None, however, have been fatal. But it’s not just sharks that are a threat. Florida also has the highest fatalities from lightening strikes in North America.

Praia de Boa Viegem, Brazil

This popular sandy beach attracts sunseekers throughout the year, and was once considered shark-free. But since 1992, at least 50 shark attacks have been recorded here, including 19 which were fatal. Environmentalists say the destruction of the region's coastal ecosystem, caused by fishing boats that trawl ever closer to the coastline, is to blame. Besides, the city has problems with violent crime.

Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, U.S.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is dangerous for two reasons: nuclear radiation and sharks. It was the site of more than 20 nuclear weapons tests between 1946 and 1958, and - although the islands were declared "safe" by U.S. experts in 1997 - their original inhabitants have refused to return, and eating locally-grown produce is not advised. The lack of fishing in the area during the last 65 years means that sea life - including sharks - has flourished, which, along with the numerous shipwrecks in the region, attracts hundreds of divers each year.

North Sentinel Island, Andaman Islands

North Sentinel Island is one of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Most of the small island is forested and surrounded by coral reefs. A group of indigenous people, the Sentinelese, live on the Island. Their population is estimated to range from 50 to 500 individuals, who are very hostile towards outsiders. The island made headlines in 2006 after the tribe murdered two fishermen who had illegally approached the island. After the incident, a 3 mile zone has been imposed around the island, and the Sentinelese have since kept a low profile. The Indian government, which previously tried to establish a relationship with the tribe, stopped all attempts to make contact. To this day, very little is known about the islanders.

Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia

Each year, between October and April, swarms of box jellyfish force the closure of hundreds of beaches across northern Australia. Being among the most venomous creatures in the world, they have been responsible for at least 70 deaths. The stings are so painful that some victims suffer cardiac arrest before they can reach the shore.

Amazon beaches, Brazil

Piranhas, anacondas and electric eels are just some of the creatures tourists may encounter on a trip to the dangerous beaches of the Amazon. The river is home to rich biodiversity, the richest of any river in the world. While it's known for its scary residents, such as sharp-toothed red-bellied piranha, the Amazon's waters are populated by 2,500 different species of fish, and scientists believe that there are many more that have not been identified yet.