9Hanakapiai Beach, Hawaii, USA

Located along the Na Pali Coast of Kauai, Hanakapiai Beach is postcard-perfect—golden sands framed by emerald cliffs. But this beauty can be deceiving.

The beach is notorious for its extremely strong rip currents. Without protective reefs, waves slam directly onto the shore, sucking swimmers out into the open Pacific with terrifying force. Many drownings have occurred here, often involving experienced swimmers who underestimated the power of the ocean.

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