The Most Perilous Bodies Of Water Nobody Should Ever Swim In
Although people throughout the world have built swimming pools to help cool off in the summer and get some low-impact impact exercise, humans have been swimming before anyone ever got that idea. And while the risk of drowning is always there, most people have been able to safely swim in a wide variety of the world's gorgeous natural bodies of water.
However, not every lake, pond, bay, and sea was created equal. Although some of these places are as calm as they are beautiful, others use their beauty as a siren call that conceals some serious dangers underneath the surface. Be warned before going anywhere near any of these savage swimming spots.
The Bermuda Triangle
After centuries of mysterious disappearances, The Bermuda Triangle has developed a supernatural reputation for whisking ships, planes, and people away to their likely doom. However, even more mundane explanations establish this nautical region as an extremely dangerous part of the world. But rather than otherworldly phenomena, the National Ocean Service identified three natural occurrences that explain these disappearances.
The Bermuda Triangle has a lot of surprisingly shallow areas where ships can run aground, and its Gulf Stream can also influence radical and sudden shifts in the area's weather patterns. Perhaps the biggest danger in the Bermuda Triangle, however, is its position. That's because the majority of the hurricanes and other tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean pass through The Bermuda Triangle at some point.
Cahills Crossing, Australia
According to News.com.au, Cahills Crossing is considered one of Australia's most dangerous bodies of water despite the area encompassing only a 3.7-mile stretch. This has little to do with the features of the water itself but rather the fact that up to 120 saltwater crocodiles are known to congregate in this small area.
Indeed, visitors can often see about 40 crocodiles at once, and dozens of daring swimmers apparently tempt fate and try to cross the waterway every year. This is despite the fact that multiple people have already lost their lives to crocodile attacks there.
Yellowstone National Park
Although the aquatic features of America's famous Yellowstone National Park are undoubtedly gorgeous, it is worth noting that this doesn't mean that they're safe to swim in. Indeed, the National Park Service has identified clear dangers in its hot springs, lakes, and rivers. And in both cases, the reason why they're dangerous comes down to temperature.
Swimming or immersing oneself in the hot springs is explicitly prohibited there because over 20 people have perished as a result of burns sustained in them. The National Park Service also warned that over 100 people have lost their lives in its lakes and rivers due to the opposite problem. The waters are cold enough to induce hypothermia year-round, and the spring snowmelt makes rivers dangerous to cross.
Lake Nyos, Cameroon
As Forbes reported, 1,700 people died overnight in Lower Nyos, Cameroon, on August 22, 1986. This disaster went completely unexplained for years until the culprit was finally discovered: The 1,700 people affected and the 3,000 livestock animals that fell with them had been exposed to nearby Lake Nyos.
Lake Nyos sits on a 950-mile chain of volcanoes and volcanic crater lakes called the Cameroon Volcanic Line. Although most of the volcanoes on this line are no longer active, a magma chamber about 50 miles below the line still releases volcanic gases, which concentrate at the bottom of the lake. On that fateful summer night in 1986, possible seismic activity released those gases, which included lethal doses of carbon dioxide. The result was mass suffocation.
Hanakapi'iai Beach, Hawaii
Although Hanakapi'iai Beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii — which is saying something given the wealth of gorgeous beaches that the state is home to — locals are quick to tell visitors that it's arguably the most dangerous as well. As that sign suggests, at least 82 people have drowned there.
According to Makana Charters, this is because of dangerously high tides during winter and incredibly powerful currents that are known to sweep people out to sea year-round. Although these currents are usually mitigated by coral reef barriers, Hanakapi'iai Beach doesn't have any, which means that any unlucky swimmers experience those currents at full force.
The Humber Estuary, United Kingdom
Although the presence of massive ships at Yorkshire's Humber River doesn't exactly make it an ideal place to swim in, The Yorkshire Post reported that it isn't much safer for the people on those ships than it would be for anyone reckless enough to swim there.
That's because it's home to incredibly fast currents matching speeds of seven knots. An additional hazard for ships can be seen in the form of the river's unpredictably shifting sandbanks, which change almost daily. As a result, the Humber Estuary is considered one of the most dangerous rivers in the world.
Sargasso Sea
As CNN reported, the Sargasso Sea is an unusual part of the North Atlantic Ocean that's closest to Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean. As the name would suggest, it's known for providing the ideal breeding ground for sargassum seaweed, which often washes up on beaches in the aforementioned areas.
However, this seaweed is known to be hazardous to ships, and it provides its known fertile growing conditions for a flesh-eating bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus. Moreover, this sargassum seaweed releases toxic hydrogen sulfide gas when it rots, which is known to cause various respiratory issues.
Lake Tahoe, United States
Straddling the border between Nevada and California, Lake Tahoe is a sterling example of America's natural beauty. With that in mind, it's hardly a surprise that it would be such a popular vacation spot. However, its popularity doesn't mean it's always safe to swim in.
According to The Record-Courier, an average of seven people die in Lake Tahoe every year due to cold water shock, which paralyzes a swimmer's muscles (no matter how fit or experienced they are) and leaves them drowning. And while that might suggest the lake is safer in the summer, that's not necessarily true due to upwelling events that bring cold water from deep in the lake to the surface.
The Nile River, Egypt
Although the Nile River is of great importance to Egypt and Africa at large, it is not a safe place to swim in. And while that's reportedly more true in the massive river's southern portions, the river carries general hazards throughout its expanse.
According to Nile Cruisers, the southern portion of the Nile near Aswan has been known to occasionally host alligators and venomous snakes. However, it's much more common for those reckless enough to swim in the Nile to contract various bacterial infections no matter where they do it.
The Orinoco River, South America
The Orinoco River runs across Venezuela and Colombia and carries an international reputation as arguably the most dangerous river in the world. According to El Pais, the river is so treacherous that researchers didn't start finding out what sea creatures lived in it until the 1970s, and successful research in future decades required the help of people who had managed to fish the river for decades.
But what makes it so dangerous? Well, it's the fourth deepest river in the world, which matters a great deal because its waters are incredibly fast and part of a complicated water system. Yet perhaps the most dangerous feature of the Orinoco River is its unusual darkness, which allows rogue logs and other debris to go unseen until they're already putting boats in danger of sinking.
Lake Natron, Tanzania
As shown here, Lake Natron is a haven for millions of the world's lesser flamingos. But while the Tanzanian lake is perfect for them, it's incredibly dangerous for humans to try to swim in there, no matter how beautiful it looks.
According to CNN, that's partially because it's an intensely alkaline "soda lake" that's considered caustic enough to strip skin from the human body. Moreover, the lake provides ideal conditions for an algae called cyanobacteria to bloom. This algae produces chemicals that can cause permanent and potentially fatal damage to the nervous system and the liver at the cellular level.
The Amazon River
Although there are people who have famously swam the length of the Amazon River, it's important to understand that they did so at great personal risk. Some people assume that the presence of piranhas in the Amazon River's waters is the biggest risk factor, but Rainforest Cruises noted that these fish have an overblown reputation for attacking humans and are primarily scavengers.
That having been said, they acknowledge that there are electric eels lurking in the depths of the river, and those are much more likely to have unpleasant encounters with humans. Furthermore, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association characterizes the river as featuring dangerously low visibility, bacterial and fungal growths, and strong currents during certain times of the year due to heavy rains.
Indian Ocean
When people take a look at this underwater waterfall in the Indian Ocean, it's easy for them to assume that this is a source of danger when swimming or sailing there. However, Taxi Service Mauritius assured visitors to the eastern African nation that swimming above an underwater waterfall is safe, if psychologically daunting.
Instead, Ocean Beach Bulletin explained that the real danger lurking in the Indian Ocean concerns its rough and unpredictable weather patterns. These are rough on their own, but they're also known to create optimal conditions for cyclones to form.
The Java Sea, Indonesia
According to Time, Indonesia's Java Sea is unusually shallow with a uniquely sediment-heavy bottom. During the summer, this typically makes the sea appear clear and pristine. But it takes on an entirely different character during monsoon season when it's particularly dangerous. This is because all that sediment gets thrown around the Java Sea, which causes visibility to plummet.
That hazard is made worse by the shallow wave patterns that can be a hazard year-round. That's because the sea's unique geology is perfect for creating quick, frenzied, and unpredictable waves that can not only make the sea difficult to swim in, but introduce hazardous debris that swimmers might collide with.
Lake Kivu, Africa
Sitting between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Lake Kivu is an unusual case for dangerous bodies of water in that it's generally considered quite safe most of the time. With no notably dangerous wildlife or hazardous wave patterns, it's likely one of Africa's safer bodies of water under normal circumstances. However, Nature noted that swimming in Lake Kivu carries the rare but real risk of being in it during a limnic eruption.
That's because it is naturally loaded with about 72 cubic miles of carbon dioxide and 14 cubic miles of methane, as well as some smaller amounts of hydrogen sulfide. In the event of a traditional eruption or an earthquake, these gases could explosively release and fatally poison not only everyone in the area but millions outside of it.
The Dead Sea, Jordan and Israel
Due to its unique density and salinity, the Dead Sea is one of the most popular bodies of water in the world to visit. Floating in its brine is not only considered relaxing but is reputed to be restorative to those with chronic skin diseases. However, the same properties that make it special and soothing can also make it dangerous.
According to Encounters Travel, that's partially because it can host strong currents but chiefly because it's dense enough that it's difficult to lift one's head back through the surface once it goes under. In addition to this drowning risk, the salinity can also damage the eyes and skin during prolonged exposure. The Smithsonian Magazine also reported that the surrounding area is increasingly prone to sinkholes.
The Bay Of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal is a massive body of water lying between India and Southeast Asia, and it's a popular place to swim along the beaches of various nations in that region. However, it's also home to a variety of dangers that depend on a traveler's location. For instance, The Hindu reported that police in the Indian city of Chennai noted that Marina Beach has insufficient lifeguards and watch towers to prevent drowning fatalities.
Elsewhere, The Daily Mirror reported that popular tourist zones in the Andaman Islands, like Swaraj, feature warnings informing visitors of the presence of crocodiles. The Bay of Bengal is also home to North Sentinel Island, which is populated by an aggressively isolationist tribe known to attack visitors on sight. As for the bay at large, AP News noted that it's prone to cyclones.
The Marianas Trench
There isn't likely to be anything like this lurking in the Marianas Trench, but anyone who tries to explore it to find out will find there's almost no way to plunge deep into the trench and get out alive. According to New Scientist, the bottom of the Marianas Trench is known for its intense pressure that exceeds even 1,000 atmospheres.
Although there are incredibly heavy-duty submarines capable of exploring it, unprotected humans would be instantly crushed if they were exposed to the trench at that depth. Nonetheless, there is life down there. It doesn't look like this and is more akin to jellyfish and other small, flat fish.
Anywhere with swordfish
According to American Oceans, swordfish are typically found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. And while a soft-ball-sized eye that NBC News confirmed as belonging to a swordfish was large, it wasn't quite as large as the one shown in this photo.
Nonetheless, it's easy to forget that swordfish can weigh up to 1,100 pounds and that their sword-like bills are sharp enough to pierce through the human skull and into the brain. That was revealed in a 2007 study in the Asian Journal of Surgery, but researchers noted that it's exceedingly rare because swordfish aren't known for unprovoked attacks.
Lake Victoria, Africa
According to CNN, Lake Victoria is vital to the fishing industry and to waterfront businesses in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. However, it is also infamous as one of the world's most dangerous lakes because about 5,000 people lose their lives there each year.
Although some of the reasons for this are socioeconomic, the biggest natural hazard in Lake Victoria is its erratic and unpredictable weather conditions influenced by its unique equatorial position. Massive thunderstorms are common on the lake, as is the tendency for these storms to suddenly appear during what should be calm conditions.
Hudson Bay, Canada
Given its location in the north-central part of Canada, Hudson Bay is generally far too cold to swim in without contracting severe hypothermia. However, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blogger Stephan Kesting noted that taking a canoe through the bay isn't any less perilous.
Although he doesn't regret doing so due to its sheer natural beauty, Kesting described this leg of his trip as "the most potentially dangerous and unforgiving body of water that I have ever paddled." This was due to the threat of sudden storms, dangerously rapid tides, and the presence of territorial polar bears.
Lake Michigan, United States
According to the National Weather Service, Lake Michigan is considered the deadliest of the five Great Lakes between the United States and Canada. This is due to the fact that out of the 962 drowning fatalities that occurred throughout the Great Lakes between 2010 and 2021, half of them took place at Lake Michigan.
More specifically, these incidents often took place on the lake's eastern shore due to its popularity with tourists and favorable wind conditions. When people are attracted to the lake, they become subject to its dangerous currents.
Lake Tanganyika, Burundi
According to Africa Travel Resource, Lake Tanganyika used to be a much safer lake to swim in, but recent years have led guides not to recommend doing so. This is partially due to the presence of a nuisance parasite called bilharzia but more immediately due to the risk of crocodile attacks.
Moreover, recent years have seen Lake Tanganyika itself become hazardous as a result of alarming and persistent increases in its water level. According to ReliefWeb, This trend has added floods and landslides to the list of potential hazards here.
Lake Turkana, Kenya
According to the Kenyan newspaper The Daily Nation, Lake Turkana is the largest inland lake in the nation and is vital to the lives and livelihoods of many residents of the surrounding area. However, that doesn't make it a safe place to swim in, and it's an especially dangerous idea to drink from its waters.
That's not because of its extreme level of salination but also because it's a well-known vector for disease transmission. In particular, Lake Turkana's water was partially responsible for a cholera outbreak that claimed the lives of 22 people.
Lake Erie, North America
Both Americans and Canadians have access to Lake Erie, but they should all exercise extreme caution before wading into it. Although it's not reputed to be the deadliest of the Great Lakes, it nonetheless has its own serious hazards.
According to the Ohio Department Of Natural Resources, Lake Erie's lack of a flat bottom means that waders can suddenly find themselves plunging from the underwater cliffs of raised sandbars. It's also home to currents that travel faster than two miles per hour, which are considered dangerous. As the Center For Public Integrity noted, it's even worse in the summer due to algal blooms that carry disease-causing cyanobacteria.
The Strait Of Gibraltar
The Strait Of Gibraltar is a key waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Europe from Africa. And that busy status is a major factor in why it's such a dangerous place to try and swim in.
Marathon swimmer Edward Williams chronicled his experiences in taking on this perilous challenge, and aside from the sheer size of the strait, the main hazards that concerned him were potential encounters with sharks and jellyfish. However, the biggest threats he ended up facing were ships that weren't paying attention to the small craft he used to support his journey.
Sulu Sea, Phillippines
Although there's no apparent danger associated with swimming in the Sulu Sea from the beaches of the Phillippines, the waters get riskier the further out one goes. And that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the sea's currents or wildlife.
Instead, the biggest threat plaguing the Sulu Sea is piracy. Although the BBC reported that maritime piracy is on a decline around the Horn of Africa, that trend is not being followed in the Sulu Sea.
Lake Malawi, Malawi
According to Lonely Planet, the eastern African nation's eponymous lake is a popular place to swim, and the outlet doesn't necessarily discourage people from joining other swimmers there. It's just a matter of being aware of the risks and getting the right testing after the fact.
That's because the lake is known for carrying bilharzia parasites, which typically use sea snails as hosts. When untreated, this can cause extreme fatigue, stomach aches, fevers, and rashes. For that reason, Lonely Planet recommends testing for the disease six weeks after returning from Lake Malawi after swimming in it.
Lake Superior, North America
Lake Superior is one of the Great Lakes straddling the United States and Canada, and it shares some similar pitfalls with the other Great Lakes. But the biggest hazards unique to it have to do with the surrounding geology.
According to the campus police at Northern Michigan University, the rock formations in Lake Superior are hotbeds for dangerous rip currents. Although strong currents are a hazard common to the lakes, the rip currents are particularly fast and deadly at Lake Superior.
The Bering Sea
As one might expect from a sea far north enough to separate the United States and Russia, the Bering Sea is an infamously cold place. That's not helped by its tendency toward rough seas, especially during inclement weather.
As Salon noted, this is what made the Bering Sea such a compelling setting for the reality show Deadliest Catch. But while the safety conditions for crab fishers there have reportedly improved significantly in recent years, it's still far too dangerous to swim in.
Mekong River
The Mekong River is an important waterway that runs through several Asian nations, but it's a treacherous one to cross even via boat, naturally, that makes the prospect of swimming in it a highly risky one in many areas due to some consistent hazards.
According to News18, the river is known for its unpredictable floods, which makes it both dangerous to be in it and to live near it. Furthermore, the river is crawling with Siamese crocodiles, which can make any swimmer nervous.
The Denmark Strait
According to The Travel, the Denmark Strait is home to the world's largest waterfall, which exists entirely underwater. However, the outlet was also quick to caution potential tourists that they will likely never see it up close.
Why? Well, because it's simply not possible for the human body to reach it outside of a submarine. The top of the waterfall is 2,000 feet under the surface in waters cold enough to paralyze the human body. If that wasn't enough, the currents are strong enough to sweep any potential swimmers away from the area entirely.
Torres Strait, Australia
According to Wanderlust Travel Magazine, Australia's Torres Strait is considered one of the most dangerous waterways in the world for ships to pass through. As an experienced guide named Dirk Laifoo told the magazine, "Even I don't know where all the sandbars are. I have to feel my way through. I'm always learning."
But while that's a specific problem for seafaring vessels, other hazards make Torres Strait just as perilous to swim in. Namely, its strong and unpredictable currents and its habit of forming whirlpools. It's definitely as far from a safe place to swim as anyone can get.
Lake Titicaca, South America
This historic lake straddles Bolivia and Peru and was once a proud landmark for both nations. However, that has changed a great deal over the years, and the prospect of swimming in it would likely seem disgusting to many locals.
According to Earth.com, that's because the lake has become a dumping site for trash, and its waters have shown high concentrations of lead and mercury. Considering that this seems to be causing health problems for people living near it, they're practically guaranteed for anyone reckless enough to swim in Lake Titicaca.
Lake Chad, Africa
Lake Chad borders several central African nations, but what makes it so dangerous to approach has nothing to do with that continent's exotic and often ferocious wildlife. Sadly, Lake Chad's biggest hazard is a long-standing problem that's plagued the region for over a decade.
According to the U.S. State Department, the Lake Chad region has been the site of persistent armed conflict since 2020. The primary instigators of this conflict are suspected to be members of the infamous militant group known as Boko Haram.
The Gulf of Alaska, United States
As one might expect from a gulf as far north as the Gulf of Alaska, the waters of The Last Frontier's coast are far too cold to swim in under most circumstances realistically. However, that doesn't quite express why this is such a dangerous area for seafaring vessels in general.
According to the Alaska Earthquake Center, Alaska and its surrounding waters are at the highest risk of tsunami danger in the United States. And since these tsunamis can appear mere minutes after an earthquake, there's little time to escape them.
Cook Strait, New Zealand
The Cook Strait is a picturesque waterway in New Zealand, but there are many times in which both swimming and trying to pilot a small boat in this strait are tantamount to risking one's life. According to the Interislander ferry company, that's because the Cook Strait is very sensitive to inclement weather.
The area is subject to a Southerly wind that's known to cause wind funneling activity (such as cyclones) and dramatic tidal shifts. Since these events are notoriously hard to predict, there's no telling when the strait can suddenly turn deadly.
The Mediterranean Sea
During optimal conditions, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the most scenic and gorgeous of the world's bodies of water. And according to the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, it's entirely possible to see its wonderful sights up close and personally.
However, that doesn't mean such a feat should be undertaken alone. Not only are rip currents a potential danger in this sea, but wildly varying temperatures and hidden rock formations can also make a swim hazardous. It's also not unusual for plankton blooms to reduce visibility in recent years.
East China Sea
The Official Okinawa Travel Guide features a section for swimming around the Japanese island but cautions visitors against swimming past the shallow reef around it and heading into the East China Sea. Part of this has to do with the sea's frequent tidal changes, but there's more to consider than that.
That's because there are both stronger currents and a greater likelihood of encountering undercurrents when swimming in the East China Sea. That region is also more likely to put people face-to-face with venomous marine life than the area closer to the reef.
The Black Sea
Although the Ukrainian news network TSN noted that tourists have a history of ignoring the hazards of the Black Sea and swimming in it anyway, ecologists do not recommend following their lead due to the extreme toxicity of its waters.
In addition to the proliferation of toxic algal blooms caused by extreme pollution, the Black Sea has also become a breeding ground for E.coli, as well as more obscure gastrointestinal agents like astrovirus and a bacteria called vibrio. This contamination is severe enough that making any contact with the Black Sea is not advised.
