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The Most Dangerous Beaches for Shark Attacks in the U.S.

As you head to the coast for summer vacation, the slim possibility of a shark attack might be in the back of your mind. Chances are you've got nothing to worry about, but just in case, you should probably know where most shark attacks happen in the U.S.
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The Active Times

The Active Times
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A couple stands on the beach near a sign reading 'Caution Sharks' in Etang-Sale, a region of the La Reunion island French territory on October 27, 2013 a day after a 24-year-old man was attacked by a shark. The young man had his leg severed in the attack as he swam fifteen meters away from the shoreline. The latest attack follows a string of shark attacks on the island in recent years. AFP PHOTO / RICHARD BOUHET (Photo credit should read RICHARD BOUHET/AFP/Getty Images)
A couple stands on the beach near a sign reading 'Caution Sharks' in Etang-Sale, a region of the La Reunion island French territory on October 27, 2013 a day after a 24-year-old man was attacked by a shark. The young man had his leg severed in the attack as he swam fifteen meters away from the shoreline. The latest attack follows a string of shark attacks on the island in recent years. AFP PHOTO / RICHARD BOUHET (Photo credit should read RICHARD BOUHET/AFP/Getty Images)

Let's get this out of the way: shark attacks are extremely rare. The odds that you'll be attacked by a shark are precisely one in 11.5 million, according to the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File.

Click Here to see the Complete List of Places You're Most Likely to be Attacked by a Shark in the U.S.

With those odds, you are more likely to be killed by a bear, a dog, or a tornado than a shark. In fact, it's more likely that a human would bite and kill you. Meanwhile, humans kill upwards of 100 million sharks each year.

No need for us humans to worry, right?

While your chances of getting attacked by a shark are incredibly slim, there are some spots in the U.S. where those odds might come into question. In "the shark attack capital of the world," for example, the International Shark Attack File predicts that any swimmer in the area is likely to have come within 10 feet of a shark at some point. If that doesn't make you think twice about getting into the water there, nothing will.

As you head to the coast for summer vacation, the slim possibility of a shark attack might be in the back of your mind. Chances are you've got nothing to worry about, but just in case, you should probably know where most shark attacks happen in the U.S.

#10 Horry County, South Carolina
North Carolina may be the state that’s currently in the spotlight, with several recent attacks, but South Carolina has seen more shark attacks over the years and Horry County is home to much of the activity. In the county that’s home to Myrtle Beach, there have been 29 shark attacks in recorded history (since 1837), according to the International Shark Attack File and luckily none of those were fatal.Photo Credit: ShutterstockClick Here to See Places You’re Most Likely to Be Attacked by a Shark in the U.S.
#9 St. Lucie County, Florida
Florida is, without a doubt, the state that sees the most shark attacks in the country and St. Lucie County is one of the spots that helps put the state at the top of the list. The area has a recorded 30 attacks, none of which were fatal, but recent shark sightings have caused major beach closures in the area.Photo Credit: Shutterstock
#8 Charleston County, South Carolina
Home to the popular coastal destination, Charleston, this county sees a lot of tourists and a few too many encounters with sharks. According to the International Shark Attack File, there have been 30 attacks in Charleston County and two of those were fatal. Photo Credit: ShutterstockClick Here to See Places You’re Most Likely to Be Attacked by a Shark in the U.S.
#7 Martin County, Florida
This county, home to Jupiter Island and several state parks, is no stranger to shark activity. With a recorded 34 attacks, Martin County has one of the highest rates in the state. Of those attacks, one was fatal—in 2010 a 38-year-old man was kite surfing 500 yards off the beach in Stuart when he was reportedly surrounded and attacked by sharks.Photo Credit: Shutterstock
#6 St. Johns County, Florida
Set in northeast Florida, St. Johns County is home to a handful of beaches, including Point Vedra, Crescent and St. Augustine Beach. The county is also home to an unusually high number of shark attacks. According to the International Shark Attack File, there have been 35 attacks in St. Johns, but luckily none of those were fatal.Click Here to See Places You’re Most Likely to Be Attacked by a Shark in the U.S.Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Click Here to see the Original Story on The Active Times
- Diana Gerstacker, The Active Times

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