Ominous waters – swim at your peril!

Here is a list of twenty places where you should never, ever swim. Don't worry, I'm not just trying to be a buzzkill - these places are super weird and interesting! Let's dive into it.

First up, we have Lake Karachay in Russia. It's been called the most polluted place on earth. So much nuclear waste was dumped into the lake during the Soviet Union era that some parts of it are so irradiated that they would kill you in an hour if you stuck around. The Russian government is trying to fix the issue by filling up the lake with concrete, but if you really want to swim there, you better hurry!

Number 19 is the Ganges River in India. It's become so polluted due to India's rapid industrialization that over 600 kilometers of it are ecological dead zones where life cannot sustain itself. The river has over 70 times the safe limit of toxic chemicals and 3000 times the safe amount of fecal coliform. Plus, the river is the final resting place for about forty thousand cremated bodies every year, so you'd be swimming in a sort of sludge made partially out of deceased people!

Number 18 is the Boiling Lake in Dominica. It's called that because, surprise surprise, it's boiling all the time. The water is roughly ninety degrees Celsius, or a hundred and ninety degrees Fahrenheit. So unless you're a lobster, you should probably avoid swimming there.

Next up is Jacob's Well in Texas. The spot is known for its crystal clear water, which is great for seeing way further than you would in any other lake. But the dangerous part is the spring's series of underwater caves and tunnels. Inexperienced divers who don't fully understand the risks and specialty equipment needed for cave diving have underestimated the challenge of Jacob's Well at their own peril, and there have been eight deaths at the site. Yikes!

Number 16 is the Nile River. It's full of Nile crocodiles, who use the clouded water to hide from their prey. Every year, hundreds of people are attacked by Nile crocodiles in sub-Saharan Africa. For reference, there are only sixteen shark attacks a year in the United States. So, unless you're feeling like a wildebeest, just stay on land.

Hanakapiai Beach in Hawaii is number 15, and it's definitely not where you want to go on your vacation. The strong riptides have led to eighty confirmed deaths, and there's even a sign with a death toll marked on it to scare potential swimmers away. So unless you're secretly a mermaid or Aquaman, you should probably avoid this beach.

Number 14 is Bubbly Creek in Chicago, which sounds like a nice Lord of the Rings-esque place, but it's actually the worst part of the Chicago River. The nearby Union stockyard dumped blood, manure, urine, and various body parts into the river for over a hundred years, and the bubbles you see are a result of the decomposing meat. Gross!

The Samaesan Hole in Thailand is number 13. It's been described as a black silty hole of death, and it's the deepest diving site in the Gulf of Thailand. If you really want to dive into this black silty hole of death, you're going to have to deal with strong currents, oil tankers passing through, poor visibility, and barracudas. And to top it all off, the US Navy used to use the site as an ammunition dump, so there's always the possibility of bumping into the wrong thing and just blowing yourself up. Not worth it!

Number 12, the Eagle's Nest Sinkhole in Florida. It's so deep that you can't even see the bottom! It's like a never-ending hole to the center of the Earth. And the best part? It's been closed down because people kept dying, but they opened it up again because why not? People just can't resist the call of the underwater caves. Plus, there's a spooky sign down there. Boo!

Number 11, Kipu Falls in Hawaii. Nobody knows what's going on here. It's like a real-life Scooby Doo mystery. People just swim along normally, and then suddenly they're gone. Like, what? Did a giant octopus grab them? Did the water spirit mo'o' decide it was snack time? Or is there just a really sneaky whirlpool waiting to drag you under? It's a real head-scratcher.

Number 10, the Amazon Basin. You've got piranhas that could shred you to pieces, electric eels that can zap you with enough voltage to power a small town, and anacondas that can stay underwater for ten minutes (which is like a lifetime in underwater snake years). But the real kicker? Candiru fish that swim up your pee tube. Yup, you read that right. No thank you.

Number 9, Lake Victoria in Africa. It looks all calm and peaceful, but don't be fooled. This lake is a straight-up killer. It's got its own mini climate that can change from nice and sunny to raging storm in no time at all. And with an average of 5,000 deaths every year, it's not a place you want to mess around in. The only thing more dangerous than fishing for a living here is trying to swim across it.

Number 8, Horseshoe Lake in California. The water itself isn't dangerous, but the area around it is full of dead trees. And why are they dead, you ask? Well, a series of earthquakes caused a bunch of carbon monoxide to seep out of the ground and into the air. So, the area is mostly safe, but you never know when the gas levels might spike and turn you into a human canary.

Number 7, Rio Tinto in Spain. The water is blood red because of pollution from five thousand years of mining. And it's not just any pollution – it's acidic enough to dissolve metal. Scientists study this river because it's like a portal to another planet. And not a good planet, like one with unicorns and rainbows. More like Jupiter's moon Europa, which is basically a giant ball of ice and misery.

Number 6, Gansbaai in South Africa. They call it Shark Alley for a reason, folks. This place is like a shark daycare center. You shouldn't swim here unless you want to be a snack. But if you're feeling particularly daring, you can always try cage diving with the sharks. Just don't forget to bring a waterproof diaper.

Number 5, Hoover Dam. Swimming here is not only illegal, but it's also just plain stupid. The currents are stronger than a Category 5 hurricane, and that's not an exaggeration. People made this "lake" to generate electricity, not for cannonballs and belly flops. The only person who survived swimming across it got arrested. So, if you want to spend the night in a cozy jail cell, be my guest.

Number 4 is the Citarum River in Indonesia. This river is so polluted that it's basically a liquid trash can. Five million people living in the river basin means that it's chock-full of waste. And if that wasn't bad enough, nearby textile factories decided to make things even worse by dumping their toxic waste in the river. So if you want to take a dip in a river that's more garbage than water, the Citarum River is the perfect spot for you!

Coming in at number 3 is the Blue Lagoon in Buxton, Derbyshire. Now, you might be thinking "oh, a lagoon, that sounds nice!" but don't be fooled. This lagoon is basically a giant vat of bleach with a pH level of 11.3. That's higher than most people's IQs! Plus, it's surrounded by caustic chemicals that give it a beautiful blue color. But wait, there's more! The lagoon is also home to abandoned cars, dead animals, and human waste. So if you're in the mood for a swim in a chemical soup filled with horrors, the Blue Lagoon is the place for you!

At number 2 we have Reunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean that's become the shark attack capital of the world. That's right, forget Jaws, this island has seen a whopping 8.28 shark attacks per million people. And 19 out of the 39 attacks were fatal! It's like the sharks have a sign that says "all you can eat buffet" with a picture of a tourist on it. So if you're feeling lucky and want to test your odds against some hungry sharks, Reunion Island is the place to be!

And finally, at number 1 we have The Strid in Yorkshire. Don't let its picturesque appearance fool you, this place is a death trap. With fast, invisible currents and underwater rocks just waiting to bash you around, The Strid has a 100% fatality rate for anyone unlucky enough to fall in. Even Professor Carolyn Roberts, a professor of environment, has warned that "It's not a good place to play." But hey, if you want to risk becoming another statistic, go ahead and take a dip in The Strid!

So there you have it, folks! Some of the most disgusting, deadly, and shark-infested bodies of water on the planet.