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How well do you know US beaches? 5 fun facts as temps rise

Surprising facts about U.S. beaches.1. New Smyrna Beach near Daytona, Florida, has the most shark attacks in the world, There have been at least 320 confirmed shark attacks since 1882.1. New Smyrna Beach near Daytona, Florida, has the most shark attacks in the world, There have been at least 320 confirmed shark attacks since 1882.2. You need to sign a waiver before visiting San Miguel Island off the coast of Southern California, It was once used as a bombing range by the Navy, so there is a possibility of running into unexploded land mines.2. You need to sign a waiver before visiting San Miguel Island off the coast of Southern California, It was once used as a bombing range by the Navy, so there is a possibility of running into unexploded land mines.2. You need to sign a waiver before visiting San Miguel Island off the coast of Southern California, It was once used as a bombing range by the Navy, so there is a possibility of running into unexploded land mines.3. Wild horses roam the beaches of Cumberland Island in Georgia, They also run free on the shores of Assateague Island National Seashore south of Ocean City.3. Wild horses roam the beaches of Cumberland Island in Georgia, They also run free on the shores of Assateague Island National Seashore south of Ocean City.3. Wild horses roam the beaches of Cumberland Island in Georgia, They also run free on the shores of Assateague Island National Seashore south of Ocean City.4. Myrtle Beach in South Carolina is America's most-visited beach, More than 19 million people visit per year.5. Olympic National Park in Washington contains ancient petroglyphs. , The petroglyphs date back to roughly 10,000 to 14,000 BC.6. A beach bar called the Flora-Bama Lounge straddles two states, Florida and Alabama. , The legendary honky-tonk bar has five stages of live music, frozen cocktails and events such as the Mullet Toss fish-throwing contest
By
May 25, 2021

Schools are out, temperatures are rising, and COVID-19 restrictions are falling. That means vacation time.

Most of you will head to the beach, especially because there are so many fantastic shorelines within driving distance of Atlanta.

Explore5 best beaches near Atlanta: Where to play, stay and eat

Here are some fun facts about the nation’s beaches you can talk about during your car trip.

Longest beach shoreline: California and Florida have the best known beaches in the United States, but which one has the most shoreline? Actually, it’s neither. The nation’s largest state, Alaska, has 33,904 miles, which is more than a third of the country’s total 95,439 miles. Florida is way behind in second place at 8,436 miles.

Beaches with wild horses: You probably know about Cumberland Island’s beautiful wild horses, but it isn’t the only beach where they gallup. Assateague Island National Seashore, a beach south of Ocean City, Maryland, is well known for the presence of wild feral horses that roam freely.

ExploreMost ‘bang for your buck’ travel destinations

The sand that “sings”: Singing Beach, about 30 miles north of Boston in the town Manchester-by-the-Sea, doesn’t so much sing as it does squeak. Henry David Thoreau compared it to waxing a table, while author Edmund H. Garrett said it seemed to him like “the crisp little note that the snow gives out in very cold weather.” Geology professor Joel S. Block said it sounds like sneakers on a gym floor. The sound he said, is caused by the “angular and spherically shaped grains (of sand) with a lack of impurities.”

“Planet of the Apes” beach: When Charleton Heston drops to his knees and curses humanity in front of the remains of the Statue of Liberty, he is hit by waves at Malibu’s Point Dume State Beach. The replica of Lady Liberty was buried in the sand at the southern end of Pirate’s Cove throughout the entire summer of 1968, when the movie was filmed.

ExploreGeorgians hit the road for a 'sense of normalcy' during the pandemic

Colorful beaches: We’re not talking about the people who frolick in the surf. If you think all beaches have sand that’s either white or, well, the color of sand, then you’re going to need to add some colors to your paint palette. Here are U.S. beaches with colored sand:

  • Purple: Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur, California
  • Gray: Ocean Cape Area, Gulf of Alaska, and Shelter Cove, Humboldt County, California
  • Dark brown: Rockaway Beach, Pacifica, California
  • Red: Kaihalulu Beach, Maui
  • Green: Papakolea Beach, Big Island, Hawaii
  • Black: Punalu’u Beach, Big Island, Hawaii, and Black Sands Beach in Shelter Cove, California

About the Author

Follow Nancy Clanton on twitter

Nancy Clanton is lead editor for revenue content, but also writes stories about health, travel, events and entertainment. She also coordinates coverage of Pulse, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's digital magazine for nurses in the Southeast. A native of Knoxville and graduate of the University of Tennessee, she has worked at the AJC for 23 years.

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