Top 10 Dirtiest Beaches in the World

10. Nakoso Beach – Japan

In 2011, Japan was paralyzed by a tsunami that destroyed everything in its path. Fukushima, a city in Japan, was probably the hardest hit. Many nuclear facilities in the city were demolished releasing radioactive materials onto nearby beaches. For years, Nakoso Beach was considered “Forbidden” by officials. Recently, a public relations campaign was aired that showed children happily playing in the waters of this once-banned beach. While it may seem like everything is clear, many people choose to avoid the unnecessary risk that could arise in the future. Would swimming in radioactive waters be allowed, even 7 years after a major disaster?

9. Blackpool Beaches – UK

Considered one of the most popular beach spots in the UK; Blackpool is home to a number of beautiful beaches. They attract more than 6 million visitors a year and the aftermath of this popularity has left all the beaches unpleasant, dirty and downright inaccessible. Most of the visitors to these beaches are young party enthusiasts.

Without much concern for the well-being of their surroundings, these people leave broken glass bottles, crushed cans, garbage, food containers, and even syringes. The most disgusting part is that they also leave vomit after binge drinking and other activities. This has caused many of the beaches to be closed to bathers due to the poor state of the water.

8. Repulse Bay – Hong Kong

From afar, Repulse Bay in Hong Kong looks like a luxury getaway you’d pay a lot of money for. Get closer and you may find that your eyes have deceived you. Although the coast is covered in exclusive hotels and high-end condos, the beach is the opposite. Runoff from nearby construction sites fouls the water and encourages algae growth, which in turn makes the water stink.

This also damages the ecosystem in the ocean around the area. You will also find garbage and plastic floating around the shoreline, which is not very welcoming for those who visit the beach for a relaxing swim. But the worst thing about this beach is that; Rumors are circulating that the grayish color of the beach sand is due to the fat from the many liposuction clinics on and around the beach. So much so that the area has been given the name “Repulsive Bay”.

7. Seminyak Beach – Bali

Bali is definitely one of the first places you would think of when considering a beach vacation. But its burgeoning tourism industry is rapidly destroying the pristine environments this island paradise has to offer. The Seminyak beach strip, in particular, which lies between Kuta and Legian, is one of the dirtiest.

Even with top-notch restaurants, hotels, and bars, the area is being polluted by agricultural runoff, industrial waste, sewage, and even urban waste. Fertilizers used on nearby farms are also causing dangerous conditions for both tourists and locals. Due to poor waste management and pollution, it is difficult for the authorities to keep up with the huge amount of garbage that reaches the banks.

6. Port Phillip Bay – Australia

Being a giant island, Australia is potentially the best beach access point in the world. With some of the most famous beaches that are found along its coasts; It would be hard for you to imagine that the country also has some of the dirtiest beaches in the world. Port Phillip Bay in Victoria is by far the worst. More than 100 years ago, when the region was drastically modified for development, more than 300 drains were installed to drain into the bay.

As a result, the coasts of the region see large quantities of plastic bags; Dozens of syringes, broken glass, and other trash weekly. Due to this dirt, the accumulation of bacteria and algae has also increased, resulting in foul-smelling water. To be precise, more than 800 million waste ends up flowing directly into the bay each year and no matter where the waste is disposed of in Melbourne, it will end up in Port Philip Bay.

5. Doheny State Beach – California

California is a surfer’s paradise and Southern California is a popular area for surfers from around the world. Unfortunately, Doheny State Beach is no longer the attraction it used to be. Until recently considered the “surfer’s beach of Southern California,” this beach has become a major hazard for a number of different reasons.

For starters, gull droppings make the water quite unpleasant. Then come runoff from the urban region around it, further polluting the water. Finally, the beach’s location attracts pollutants, trash, and debris. Water samples taken from the beach have not met state standards on many occasions. And the government has been forced to put up signs warning visitors to stay out of the water.

4. Fujiazhuang Beach – China

We all know how populated China is, so you can only imagine its beaches. Unfortunately, you don’t have to imagine Fujiazhuang beach giving us everything we need to know. Thousands of people visit this beach every day, which pollutes it excessively. Not only is it crowded, but the amount of trash found on this beach is just as overwhelming.

With so many people flocking to the beach, there is hardly room to lie on the sand or even enjoy a bath without bumping into another person. But, if that doesn’t put you off, the beach also has few bathrooms. There is approximately 1 toilet block for every 10,000 people. Which means that visitors are doing their business in the waters around you. You should be aware that this beach is not the perfect place for a vacation or a family vacation.

3. Marunda Beach – Indonesia

If you can smell a beach more than a mile away! You may want to stay away from its sandy shores. Marunda Beach located in Indonesia is one of the dirtiest beaches in the world. But it is also one of the most popular. Not far from North Jakarta, this beach has been voted the dirtiest and most excavated for decades. The tide and wind currents on this beach wash away every last drop of trash, debris and waste from all the surrounding beaches, which are surprisingly just as dirty too.

The factories around this beach freely release oil and waste into the already murky waters. Although this beach looks like a giant garbage dump. But it is also a favorite place for many locals and tourists. Quite difficult to find, the road to the beach is infuriating unless you’ve visited it before and know how to get there. Visiting families should closely monitor their children to keep themselves safe from unwanted dangers.

2. Haina Beach – Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a beautiful Caribbean beach destination. But there is a beach in the region that should be avoided at all costs. Haina Beach in Santo Domingo is not only dirty but extremely dangerous. The sand and water on this beach have been found to contain extremely high levels of lead. Sourced from an illegal car battery plant; Lead has not only caused damage to the beach, but also to the people who live in Bajos de Haina. With the name of “The Dominican Chernobyl”, many people in the area and tourists have suffered lead poisoning just by visiting the beach or its surroundings.

1. Goa – India

It would surprise most that Goa is even on this list. Leave it alone at the top, but this majestic vacation destination is now considered to have the worst beaches in the world. With more than 2.5 million tourists flocking to this city each year; One can only imagine the trash, garbage, sewage and debris left on the sandy shores. Thousands of broken glass bottles, sewage from the surrounding developing areas, burning plastic, runoff from the many mining locations, and waste from all the nearby hotels have turned Goa from paradise to plague. Another cause of spoilage is cows that roam freely and drop their droppings on beaches and in the water, making it unsafe for humans.

There you have it, 10 of the dirtiest beaches you should definitely avoid. So the next time you’re planning a beach vacation with family or friends, be sure to do your research and avoid the places mentioned above.