We love escaping that hot summer air by jumping in the
water for a refreshing swim. We find a nice lake or beach, dive in, and
relax. Unfortunately, some of us don’t expect what these bodies of water
hold. Some hold snakes, others sharks, and others still deadly poisons
that can kill you in seconds. Here, we take a sampling of some of the
most dangerous places to swim on Earth. You can’t say we didn’t warn
you.
If you’re looking instead for a nice relaxing swim, this might not be the lake for you. Instead, you might want to make yourself somewhere where you won’t dissolve when you swim there for too long. The result would be, contra to the Rio Tinto, a delightful refresher.
Part of what makes the lake so deadly is that it has its own isolated weather system. And because of this, the weather can change from bright and sunny to terrible and bleak in a matter of seconds. If you’re caught in the middle of a storm while swimming, then, you might have caught a little more than you bargained for.
It isn’t just shark alley that possesses this reputation, however. Another island off the coast of North America bears the same reputation. While this latter island is a more popular destination for great white sharks and the like, there is a lower probability that one of these sharks will attack you. This is not the case in the South African region.
As a result of the earthquakes, carbon dioxide was released from the
ground. The result of this release was the death of all the nearby flora
of the area. You will see, then, a large lot of dead trees on your way
to the area. You’ll only see these, though, if you decide to ignore our
list and swim in these places regardless.
Oftentimes, industrialization will occur so quickly that the regulations on that pollution will not catch up. As a result, bodies of water will often get polluted. This is what had happened with the Ganges: people had put into the water trash, plastic, and pretty much everything else they didn’t want to deal with. The result is the now toxic Ganges.
In case you were unaware, snakes can swim. So, if your intentions are to dip into the water and forget about the pains of the humid life on shore, don’t expect to be totally free of woes. The water itself will be hot—and sometimes it’ll even be full of snakes. Some of these snakes, even more disconcertingly, are rattlesnakes.
There are many intakes along the dam, for instance, which allow for the water at the top to move down to the bottom at a controlled pace. These intakes have, ostensibly, taken the lives of many unsuspecting swimmers. The dam also has some things called a bell-mouth spillway, which are uncontrolled ways through which they transport water. Watch out for these, too.
New Smyrna Beach, like Reunion Island, has also been considered the shark attack capital of the world. Both islands, then, are not places you would like to go if you’re afraid of sharks. Instead, you’d probably like to go somewhere inland instead. The results will surely be a lower probability of death-by-shark. But you also won’t get to experience any warm, sandy beaches.
But despite all of this beauty and natural splendor, it is sometimes a place you shouldn’t swim. The Citarum River is a gleaning example of this. The reasons it is so dangerous should be familiar: pollution. People have filled the place with so much garbage that it has since become uninhabitable by the local swimmer.
You can tell why the area is so popular to sharks when you look at its great concentration of seals and the like. Because of these animals, sharks will often mistake nearby divers as food, resulting in an attack. While this doesn’t happen all too often (in fact it rarely happens at all), it will sometimes happen. And when it does, the results are often deadly.
And, in case you didn’t know, if ammonia leaks into a local lake or stream, it is quarantined because of the potential danger. The Buxton Derbyshire Blue Lagoon, then, should be avoided at all costs. So while you might want to take a dip in its pretty blue waters, it’d be better that you stay home and read a book. We could all do some more reading anyways.
There have been, for instance, a record number of around 39 attacks on the small island. This number is still low considering the drastically high number of people who swim there each year. It is still something to take into account if you want to make the place one of your new favorite swimming locations.
The list of these beasts is just as long as it is terrifying. There are sharks, saltwater crocodiles, stonefish, and the exceptionally deadly blue-ringed octopi and box jellyfish. The box jellyfish is particularly deadly. One sting from this tiny creature can induce a cardiac arrest which can kill you almost instantly. Not so fun if you ask us.
This is unfortunate considering the heat that those in Zambia will often feel. At the edge of the falls are these things called “The Devil’s Pools.” These little pools are little digs that accumulate water in which you can swim. Unfortunately, they are literally on the lip on the falls and extremely dangerous. We would not recommend that you swim in them.
In part what makes it so dangerous is the presence of small and hidden currents. These currents, for those who fall in, can quickly become deadly, sucking people down and in. The result, in case you didn’t know, was that you drown and face the bottom. Most often, the currents will drag you beneath rocks, which causes you to get trapped. This isn’t something you’d like on your nice, Yorkshire vacation.
1. Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto can be found in Spain. Unfortunately, the history of this area has led the waters that inhabit it to turn red with pollution. This is because the area was used as a mine, the runoff of which had greatly polluted the lake. This pollution, in turn, is grossly acidic. Avoid.If you’re looking instead for a nice relaxing swim, this might not be the lake for you. Instead, you might want to make yourself somewhere where you won’t dissolve when you swim there for too long. The result would be, contra to the Rio Tinto, a delightful refresher.
2. Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the third largest lake in the entire world. Some parts of it, however, are not parts in which you would like to swim. One reason the lake is so dangerous is the number of deaths that occur in it per year. The number so far is around 5,000. That’s pretty high.Part of what makes the lake so deadly is that it has its own isolated weather system. And because of this, the weather can change from bright and sunny to terrible and bleak in a matter of seconds. If you’re caught in the middle of a storm while swimming, then, you might have caught a little more than you bargained for.
3. Gansbaai
Gansbaai is an area off the coast of South Africa. The place has, however, been named shark alley for its great presence of sharks. This is unfortunate, as sharks can induce a great amount of death in those who they attack. You do not, for the most part, want to be one of these people.It isn’t just shark alley that possesses this reputation, however. Another island off the coast of North America bears the same reputation. While this latter island is a more popular destination for great white sharks and the like, there is a lower probability that one of these sharks will attack you. This is not the case in the South African region.
4. Horseshoe Lake
Horseshoe Lake is one of the many lakes within the state of California. One thing terrifying about the lake is the drastically high presence of carbon dioxide that exists there. And where, you ask, did this carbon dioxide come from? Well, it came from a long series of earthquakes that destroyed the area.5. The Ganges River
Industrialization has its benefits. It gives you more technology, a larger economy, and ultimately a more robust city life. But it also has a dark side. Pollution, carbon emissions, and many other foibles will result. And it’s because of this industrialization that the Ganges River in India has become of the most dangerous areas in which to swim.Oftentimes, industrialization will occur so quickly that the regulations on that pollution will not catch up. As a result, bodies of water will often get polluted. This is what had happened with the Ganges: people had put into the water trash, plastic, and pretty much everything else they didn’t want to deal with. The result is the now toxic Ganges.
6. The Gulf Coast
The Gulf Coast off of the Southern United States is, let’s just say, a little different. While it’s home to abundant runoff from the farming practices of central North America, making its shores virtually uninhabitable for sea critters, it is also home to some of the deadliest animals imaginable. Some of these animals are snakes.In case you were unaware, snakes can swim. So, if your intentions are to dip into the water and forget about the pains of the humid life on shore, don’t expect to be totally free of woes. The water itself will be hot—and sometimes it’ll even be full of snakes. Some of these snakes, even more disconcertingly, are rattlesnakes.
7. Hoover Dam
First off, swimming at the Hoover Dam is illegal. So, if you were to swim there, you would find yourself succinctly imprisoned. Secondly, the place dangerous—in part what makes it illegal to swim there. One of these dangers is the super strong currents that exist within.There are many intakes along the dam, for instance, which allow for the water at the top to move down to the bottom at a controlled pace. These intakes have, ostensibly, taken the lives of many unsuspecting swimmers. The dam also has some things called a bell-mouth spillway, which are uncontrolled ways through which they transport water. Watch out for these, too.
8. New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Florida, like California, is home to some of the sandiest and beautiful beaches around. But, also like California, its beaches are bordering the sea. Unfortunately, this often makes it home to terrifying and deadly creatures like sharks. This is especially true in New Smyrna Beach.New Smyrna Beach, like Reunion Island, has also been considered the shark attack capital of the world. Both islands, then, are not places you would like to go if you’re afraid of sharks. Instead, you’d probably like to go somewhere inland instead. The results will surely be a lower probability of death-by-shark. But you also won’t get to experience any warm, sandy beaches.
9. Citarum River
Indonesia is one of the most beautiful places you can travel. It’s also where a lot of us get our coffee. Anyways, the archipelago is home to some of the most beautiful shorefronts visible. But other than the beauty, its status as an archipelago has earned it a mass amount of biodiversity. The life there has adapted differently on each of the different islands.But despite all of this beauty and natural splendor, it is sometimes a place you shouldn’t swim. The Citarum River is a gleaning example of this. The reasons it is so dangerous should be familiar: pollution. People have filled the place with so much garbage that it has since become uninhabitable by the local swimmer.
10. Bolinas Beach, California
California is home to many of the most pleasant beaches on planet Earth. But it is also home to some of the most deadly. One of these is Bolinas Beach. Bolinas Beach, much to the chagrin of the locals, is a part of the infamous Red Triangle, an area in which great whites frequent to get their lunch.You can tell why the area is so popular to sharks when you look at its great concentration of seals and the like. Because of these animals, sharks will often mistake nearby divers as food, resulting in an attack. While this doesn’t happen all too often (in fact it rarely happens at all), it will sometimes happen. And when it does, the results are often deadly.
11. Blue Lagoon
In the UK you’ll find some bodies of water that are best left avoided. The Blue Lagoon is one such body. Because the lake has such a drastically high pH level (standing high at a staggering 11.3), the natural pool has an alkalinity comparable to that of ammonia or bleach.And, in case you didn’t know, if ammonia leaks into a local lake or stream, it is quarantined because of the potential danger. The Buxton Derbyshire Blue Lagoon, then, should be avoided at all costs. So while you might want to take a dip in its pretty blue waters, it’d be better that you stay home and read a book. We could all do some more reading anyways.
12. Reunion Island
Reunion Island is a small little island off the coast of Madagascar. Located succinctly in the Indian Ocean, the place has become the shark attack capital of the world. So forget about the dangers of South Africa, this place will have you bit and bit quick.There have been, for instance, a record number of around 39 attacks on the small island. This number is still low considering the drastically high number of people who swim there each year. It is still something to take into account if you want to make the place one of your new favorite swimming locations.
13. Queensland, Australia
Queensland is the second largest territory in the commonwealth of Australia. It’s also, however, one of the more deadly places to swim. The reasons for this are probably what you would expect—the place is home to an abundance of deadly and terrifying creatures.The list of these beasts is just as long as it is terrifying. There are sharks, saltwater crocodiles, stonefish, and the exceptionally deadly blue-ringed octopi and box jellyfish. The box jellyfish is particularly deadly. One sting from this tiny creature can induce a cardiac arrest which can kill you almost instantly. Not so fun if you ask us.
14. Victoria Falls
Some places you wouldn’t like to swim are not places most people would swim anyways. Victoria Falls in Zambia, however, is surprisingly not one of these locations. The place is home to one of the greatest series of waterfalls that exists. And because of this, the results of a nice refreshing swim could lead to a precipitous death-fall.This is unfortunate considering the heat that those in Zambia will often feel. At the edge of the falls are these things called “The Devil’s Pools.” These little pools are little digs that accumulate water in which you can swim. Unfortunately, they are literally on the lip on the falls and extremely dangerous. We would not recommend that you swim in them.
15. The Strid
In the middle of Yorkshire, England you’ll find a body of water so dismal, so fantastically disturbing, and so deadly that to swim in it for over five seconds will lead to your immediate death. Okay, not really. But the place is extraordinarily dangerous.In part what makes it so dangerous is the presence of small and hidden currents. These currents, for those who fall in, can quickly become deadly, sucking people down and in. The result, in case you didn’t know, was that you drown and face the bottom. Most often, the currents will drag you beneath rocks, which causes you to get trapped. This isn’t something you’d like on your nice, Yorkshire vacation.
