We are used, when we think of the sea and beaches, to imagine real terrestrial paradises made up of crystalline blue water, soft white sand, marine animals, palm trees and luxuriant vegetation. Unfortunately, not all beaches in the world correspond to this idyllic view!
As is sadly known, in fact, the intensive exploitation of the seas, industrial production, civilization and human neglect also affect some coastal areas around the world, making them dangerously polluted and absolutely not suitable for swimming. According to a study carried out by the WWF, the cause of more than 80% of marine pollution are terrestrial activities: oil spills,dispersion of chemicals and fertilizers , discharge of raw water, waste abandoned by people. The atmosphere also contains substances that can contaminate the soil and seas due to rain. Consequently, it is the maritime areas located near the areas with the highest population density that are most polluted. This bitter ranking therefore takes into account these factors and collects the most polluted stretches of seas in the world, which we have gathered hoping that one day the situation in these places will improve.
15 – Fujiazhuang Beach, China
Photo by Quinn Dombrowski. It’s not just industrial garbage and sewageto pollute the waters, as in the case of this Chinese beach, one of the most popular in the country. Due to its popularity, the beach is considered one of the most polluted in the world. During the summer season, a visitor can barely spread out their towel or immerse themselves in the water without bumping into other people. Although it is one of the busiest beaches in China, the services are not adequate: think that there is only one public bathroom for an average of 10,000 people , so you can imagine what this stretch of sea could contain.
14 – Nakoso Beach, Japan
The official version is that the beaches around Fukushima, Japan, are safe and the sea is safe for swimming, despite the devastating nuclear disaster caused by the 2011 tsunami. A campaign has even been promoted with images of smiling children happily bathing in these waters to bring people back to these beaches. Local authorities also argue that the radioactive concentration of the water is negligible . We are sure that this information corresponds to reality
. However, the idea of ​​bathing in a sea so close to a damaged nuclear power plant seems a completely unnecessary risk.
13 – Dead zone of the Gulf of Mexico, USA, Mexico and CubaThis area, which includes a large basin that touches the coasts of the United States, Mexico and Cuba, is one of the most polluted
marine areas in the world . The fertilizers used in agriculture in many American states are poured into this stretch of sea by the Mississippi River, for this reason the water is polluted by some dangerous substances such as nitrogen and phosphorus . Hypoxia is the consequence of pollution: the waters no longer contain the oxygen necessary to allow life.
12 – North Atlantic Garbage Patch, Atlantic Ocean
Have you ever heard of the North Atlantic Garbage Patch
It is nothing but a huge agglomeration of garbage, mainly plastic, which float on the surface of the Atlantic. First spotted in 1972, this floating “island” of garbage is made up of around 20,000 pieces per square kilometer! Due to this maritime landfill, the phenomenon of hypoxia also occurs here, as well as other ecological problems such as the death of numerous specimens of fish and birds, which ingest plastic waste.
11 – Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Pacific Ocean
Photo by DVIDSHUB. This is another floating landfill , but this time it pollutes the Pacific Ocean. It has been estimated that the accumulation of garbage covers an area between 700,000 and 15 million square kilometers.mass of garbage , along with other residues. The ecological damage is immense: hypoxia, destruction of the ecosystem, reduction of the living space of animal species.
10 – Seminyak Beach, Bali
If we think of Bali we certainly think of dreamlike landscapes, unspoiled nature, heavenly beaches. Seminyak Beach is one of these tourist resorts very famous for its exceptional views, but unfortunately this beach is also facing severe pollution . Waste from the city, sewerage, various chemicals and some waste materials , the result of agricultural and industrial processes, pollute this stretch of coast.
9 – Huntington Beach, California (USA)
California is famous for its beaches frequented by tourists from all over the world. This stretch of sea, in particular, suffers the invasion of thousands of people and surfers, responsible for the abandonment of all kinds of waste . It is precisely the surfers who claim that, after riding the waves of the sea, they are subject to illness and physical discomfort. This phenomenon has been repeated cyclically since 1998. Whether it is the garbage and industrial pollution of zone
8 – Repulse Bay, Hong Kong
Dubbed repulsive bay through a pun with its name and the English word for repulsive, this beach is polluted from the construction activity in its surroundings. In fact, the waters are pollutedwaste substances used in construction, which threaten the marine ecosystem but not only. Repulse Bay is also famous for its unpleasant smells that there is no way to keep away from the nostrils of citizens and tourists.
7 – Blackpool Beach, Great Britain
Although the coasts of Great Britain are not exactly comparable to other seaside resorts, this particular beach still seems to attract a lot of people. The crowd of people is not at all respectful of the environment, abandoning their waste and making Blackpool Beach one of the most polluted beaches in the world.
6 – Odaiba Bay, Japan
The high concentration of human feces and dangerous bacteriafound in the waters of Odaiba Bay has made it necessary to ban bathing since 2003. A real shame, as this artificial island of Tokyo Bay is a real beauty.
5 – Marunda Beach, Indonesia
Looking at the images of this location one cannot fail to feel repugnance. Yet even when the layer of litter that covers the sea water began to be significant, tourists and careless fishermen continued to frequent this place. Obviously the situation has worsened and the fishing activity has been interrupted, the ecosystem seems in fact now compromised .
4 – Chowpatty Beach, India
Located in Mumbai, India, this beach is nothing more thana huge accumulation of waste , initially left by boats at sea and then transported to the shore by the current. As if that weren’t enough, a ship that, due to an accident, overturned and released about 60,000 tons of coal into the waters made the situation worse .
3 – Doheny State Beach, California (USA)
Here is another Californian beach, which wins the third position of this ranking. Bathing in this stretch of sea is prohibited, as indicated by numerous warning signs. Also in this case it is the excessive concentration of fecal bacteria that is the cause of the pollution of the sea, as claimed by the Heal the Bay association.
2 – Haina Beach, Dominican Republic Considered almost on a par with Chernobyl, very high levels of lead
are recorded on this beach . The fault lies with a former plant built by the United States to recycle car batteries. It was the population that paid the price, which since the 1990s has reported pathologies attributable to lead poisoning. Those who suffered the most were the children, who developed neurological damage . 1 – Port Phillip Bay, Australia
Here we are at the first position of the ranking, occupied by an Australian beach, which since 2005 has seen real waves of waste pouring out
. If you ever think of crossing this stretch of beach, be very careful: mixed with the grains of sand there are shards of glass and even syringes! As long as the authorities do not intervene, the coast will maintain the ban on swimming and holding sporting events, such as the Super Sprint Gatorade Triathlon, canceled by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in 2012.
