Swimmers Beware: The Deadliest Waters From Around The World

1. Drake Passage

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Situated in the Southern Ocean, The Drake Passage is infamously known as the roughest patch of sea in the world. The waves here have been known to reach up to 40 feet in height! Crossing this treacherous sea is quite the exhilarating experience for voyagers.

2. Bermuda Triangle

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Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of the Bermuda Triangle. This mysterious space in the western North Atlantic Ocean is said to be where a number of people, ships and planes have seemingly vanished. Rumours of aliens, alternate dimensions and sucking vortices are just some ways people have tried to come up with explanations.

3. Cape Horn

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There's a number of reasons why it's advisable to avoid the surrounding waters of Cape Horn when possible. There are super strong currents, huge waves, powerful winds and a lot of icebergs. The waters are so dangerous that the Panama Canal was opened in 1914 to reduce the need for ships to pass through Cape Horn.

4. Lake Superior

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Don't be fooled by this idyllic picture - Lake Superior of North America is actually a death trap. Over 350 ships and 10,000 lives have been taken here. This could be due to the extreme winds, dramatic waves or the unusually low water temperatures. On average, the water is around 36 °F.

5. Bay of Bengal

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The Bay of Bengal is situated in the Indian Ocean, and it's known to be prone to storm surges and cyclones. The powerful, tropical winds paired with the considerable depth of the water is a recipe for disaster! The waters here reach a depth of 15,400 ft.

6. Black Sea

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The Black Sea is made up of two different layers. It's highly dangerous to dive below the first layer! If you were to do this, you'd be swimming in waters that are made up of 92% hydrogen sulphide, which is a poisonous, highly toxic gas. Best to avoid!

7. Lake Victoria

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Another seemingly picturesque image. Africa's Lake Victoria is home to several deadly animals, including crocodiles and hippos in large quantities! The animals here have been to blame for hundreds of fatalities each year. It's their home and it's best to be left alone.

8. Red Sea

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It's easy to mistake the Red Sea for peaceful, tranquil waters. The temperature is comfortable and the currents are calm. But, if you were to be tempted to swim here, you'd be putting yourself at risk of being harmed by many different deadly creatures living here. You might find scorpionfish, lionfish or stonefish.

9. Great Australian Bight

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You can see from the image here that the Bight is boasting some pretty high, pretty sharp cliff edges. If that doesn't look dangerous enough for you, what if I told you that this place has a reputation for stormy and rough seas? Not to mention the great white sharks and Australian sea lions...

10. Gulf of Alaska

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The waters here have incredibly strong, turbulent currents, making them a huge challenge to navigate. The water depth increases rapidly and unexpectedly as you travel away from the coast. So much so that the color difference is evident from the photograph. This can cause steep, powerful waves.

11. Mediterranean Sea

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At least 290 tsunamis have happened in the Mediterranean Sea, some of which have been highly destructive. This part of the ocean is also home to 47 different shark species! If you go swimming here, be sure to watch out for the deadly sharks and rays.

12. Lake Michigan

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Lake Michigan is particularly treacherous due to the two different types of currents here: rip and longshore currents. This combined with the ever-changing weather make these waters very unpredictable. Often, Lake Michigan is known to be stormy or foggy.

13. The Weddell Sea

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The Weddell Sea lies north of Antarctica. So, it's no surprise that these waters are usually packed with heavy, thick ice - no fun to navigate! The surface temperatures lie below freezing and the winds are highly powerful, making this an extremely harsh climate.

14. The Skeleton Coast

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Ranking one of the deadliest places in the world, it's not recommended to swim at the Skeleton Coast! The current is super powerful, carrying swimmers over 100 miles away from the shore with ease. Not to mention the eerie graveyard left by shipwrecks - containing both animal and human remains!

15. The Seychelles

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The Seychelles is ranked 5th in the world for the most drowning deaths. This is because the currents can be strong here, making it very difficult to swim. The country has also advised tourists against swimming here as it's a well-known hotspot for sharks!

16. Cook Strait

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Located in New Zealand, the waters of Cook Strait are infamously known as one of the most dangerous and unpredictable around the world. The strong winds here create funnelling and strong tides. The turbulent weather makes the waters extremely dangerous.

17. The Maldives

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Another desired holiday destination where the waters are more dangerous than you think! The current here is strong and carries on into the open ocean. The Maldives is also home to several dangerous animals, including moray eels, giant triggerfish, sometimes even crocodiles and sharks!

18. The Nile River

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There's no part of the Nile that's safe for swimmers. The biggest risk of these waters is disease, either water-borne or from disease-carrying mosquitoes. There's also a large number of predators here, the crocodiles alone kill around 200 people every year!

19. The Amazon River

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Starting in Peru and working its way out into the Atlantic Ocean, this 4,225-mile-long river is highly dangerous. Swimming here will put you at risk of infections and diseases, such as malaria. The piranha is one of the deadliest threats here, known for razor-sharp teeth and highly powerful jaws.

20. The Persian Gulf

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The Persian Gulf is home to several different species of shark, but that's not the biggest threat here. This stretch of water is the most dangerous to cross for shipping. Iran and Iraq face each other at the head of these waters. The seven-year war over oil has transformed the Gulf into a shooting range and death trap.

21. Bay of Fundy

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The tides in Fundy Bay are the highest in the world. It's also home to the largest whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere, coming in at between 70 to 75 metres wide! The powerful waves created are due to the different currents within the bay. It’s no surprise that people have lost their lives here.

22. The Mekong River

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Situated in Southeast Asia, the Mekong River has been known for severe flooding and unpredictable waters. The floods have ruined the houses and lives of the local people. If this wasn't enough reason to fear these waters, they're riddled with crocodiles and snakes.

23. The Congo River

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Africa's Congo River is one of the deepest in the world, at around 220 metres. If you were to find yourself in here, you'd be lucky to get out! Either the razor-sharp thorns, violent rapids, fallen trees or jagged rocks could be the death of you. It's definitely not advisable to canoe here!

24. River Wharfe

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This seemingly peaceful river is located in Yorkshire, England. Many people have lost their lives due to these waters. Sadly, a couple on their honeymoon died here in 1998. There are many hidden tunnels, known to suck people in, and the water depth and speed can rapidly increase.

25. The Orinoco River

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This super long river winds on for 1,700 miles, and it's quite tricky to navigate! Many people get lost attempting to ride or swim this river due to the complex, winding pathway. Orinoco has a fast paced current, adding to the difficulty and danger.

26. The Yangtze River

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Around 75 percent of the floods in China are down to The Yangtze River. Over 300,000 people lost their lives due to these disastrous floods during the 20th century alone! The waters here are also highly polluted by several dangerous chemicals, such as acid rain, industrial wastewater discharge and ship garbage.

27. The Mississippi River

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This river is best left alone - it's not safe for swimming, fishing or drinking! The waters contain high levels of mercury, bacteria, sediment and polychlorinated biphenyl. Take these dangers away, and the river is still a death trap. There are trees and debris waiting to trap you and drag you under.

28. The Danube River

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The Danube River is another which is heavily polluted. It's advisable not to try to swim in these waters as there are numerous dangers and risks. The strong currents have been known to drag people right to the bottom! Not to mention the constant ship traffic!

29. The English Channel

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The English Channel is easily one of the busiest routes in the world, which is just one reason this voyage is so dangerous. Twenty-seven people died in 2017 alone trying to cross the Channel. The conditions are unpredictable and can vary significantly, making it hard to navigate.

30. The Great Lakes

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The waves at the Great Lakes are unique. They come in super-fast! Averaging a wave every 3-4 seconds, if you swam for 15 minutes, you'd be hit by 225 waves! This relentless work will wear you down very quickly, should you be crazy enough to swim here.