Dr. Beach Names Hatteras No. 5 Best Beach in America
Professor Stephen Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach, has unveiled his annual list ranking the Top 10 Beaches in America, placing Cape Hatteras in the top five!
Hawaii’s Waimanalo Bay Beach Park topped Dr. Beach’s 25th annual top 10 list of U.S. beaches, released Thursday.
Cape Hatteras was picked as the No. 5 best beach in the U.S.
Other beaches in the top 5 include Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs, Florida in 2nd place; St. George Island State Park in Florida. in 3rd; and Hamoa Beach in Maui, Hawaii in 4th place.
As “Dr. Beach”, Leatherman has selected the annual Top 10 Beaches since 1991, and past National Winners have traditionally been retired and listed on the web site, though he said he will allow all past winners to be considered again starting next year.
Fifty criteria are used to evaluate beaches, which include water and sand quality as well as safety and management. Dr. Leatherman is an internationally known coastal scientist who has published 19 books and hundreds of scientific articles and reports about storm impacts, coastal erosion and ways to improve beach health and safety. More emphasis is being placed on environmental management and beach safety.
Bonus points are awarded for prohibition of smoking on beaches, as Oahu is leading the way as smoking at all beaches on this Hawaiian island is now banned.
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