Shark attack: can you handle the world's most dangerous beaches?

Sure, anyone can visit a beach. But are you bold enough to try one of the world's most dangerous beaches? Are you tough enough?

Here's the most dangerous by category:

1. Shark Attacks/Bites - New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida.
The were 112 incidents of shark-human "contact" in 2007, according to the International Shark Attack File released in March but only one resulted in a human fatality. New Smyrna, an inlet on the eastern coastline of Florida, had the most attacks, with 17 bites recorded.

2. Pollution - Hacks Point Beach, Kent County, Md./Beachwood Beach West, Ocean County, N.J.
According to the National Research Defense Council, an environmental action group, these two beaches had the highest percentage of samples exceeding U.S. health standards in 2006.

3. Jellyfish Attacks - Northern Australia
The coast of Northern Australia serves as a home to chironex fleckeri, also known as the box jellyfish, which has caused 60 deaths in the last 100 years, according the Center for Disease Control, Australia. While fatalities are rare, about 40 people are hospitalized each year in the Northern Territory. Last year, a 6-year-old boy died in the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin.

4. Lightning - Florida
Florida tops off the list as the most dangerous spot for lightning, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Between 1997 and 2006, there were 71 deaths caused by lightning in Florida, more than any other state.

Popular beaches such as New Smyrna and Clearwater are often evacuated and then closed for days because of the threat of lightning.

5. Boating Accidents - Florida
Data by county or beach is not available, but according to the U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety Division, the state of Florida reported 633 boating accidents and 68 fatalities in 2006, the highest number of any state in the country with more people actively involved in boating in Florida.

6. Rip Current Drowning - Brevard County, Florida
In 2007, 10 people drowned in Brevard County due to the rip current alone, according to the United States Life Saving Association.

Wait a minute, four of the six most dangerous beaches are located in Florida? And that's not even counting the most deadly of dangers - seeing old men in speedos!

This report only gives me even more ammunition to stay away from that state.

Aw, just kidding Florida!

World's most dangerous beaches [Forbes via Reuters]

[Photo via Flickr]