BEST BEACHES IN THE USA

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BEACH RATING SCALE

PHYSICAL FACTORS
(relate to the vacation/holiday season)
CATEGORIES
1 2 3 4 5
1. Beach width at low tide <10 m
narrow
10-30 m 30-60 m 60-100 m >100 m
wide
2. Beach material cobbles sand/cobbles coarse sand ----- fine sand
3. Beach condition or variation erosional ----- stable ----- depositional
4. Sand softness hard ----- ----- ----- soft
5. Water temperature cold/hot ----- ----- ----- warm
(70°-80° F)
6. Air temperature (midday) < 60° F
> 100° F
----- ----- ----- 80°-90° F
7. Number of sunny days few ----- ----- ----- many
8. Amount of rain large ----- ----- ----- little
9. Wind speeds high ----- ----- ----- low
10.Size of breaking waves high/dangerous ----- ----- ----- low/safe
11. Number of waves/width of breaker zone none 1-2 3-4 5 6+
12. Beach slope (underwater) steeply sloping bottom ----- ----- ----- gently sloping bottom
13. Longshore current strong ----- ----- ----- weak
14. Rip currents often ----- ----- ----- never
15. Color of sand gray black brown light tan white/pink
16. Tidal range large (>4 m) 3-4 m 2-3 m 1-2 m small (<1 m)
17. Beach shape straight ----- ----- ----- pocket
18. Bathing area bottom conditions rocky, cobbles, mud ----- ----- ----- fine sand
19. Turbidity turbid ----- ----- ----- clear
20. Water color gray ----- ----- ----- aqua blue
21. Floating/suspended human material (sewage, scum) plentiful ----- ----- ----- none
22. Algae in water amount infested ----- ----- ----- absent
23. Red tide common ----- ----- ----- none
24. Smell (eg, seaweed, rotting fish) bad odors ----- ----- ----- fresh salty air
25. Wildlife (eg, shore birds) none ----- ----- ----- plentiful
26. Pests (biting flies, ticks, mosquitoes) common ----- ----- ----- no problem
27. Presence of sewage/runoff outfall lines on/across the beach several ----- ----- ----- none
28. Seaweed/jellyfish on the beach many ----- ----- ----- none
29. Trash and litter(paper, plastics, nets, ropes, planks) common ----- ----- ----- rare
30. Oil and tar balls common ----- ----- ----- none
31. Glass and rubble common ----- ----- ----- rare
32. Views and vistas - Local scene obstructed ----- ----- ----- unobstructed
33. Views and vistas - Far vista confined ----- ----- ----- unconfined
34. Buildings/Urbanism overdeveloped ----- ----- ----- pristine/wild
35. Access limited ----- ----- ----- good
36. Misfits (nuclear power station, offshore dumping) present ----- ----- ----- none
37. Vegetation (nearby). Trees, sand dunes none ----- ----- ----- many
38. Well-kept grounds/promenades or natural environment no ----- ----- ----- yes
39. Amenities (showers, chairs, bars, etc) none ----- ----- ----- some
40. Lifeguards none ----- ----- ----- present
41. Safety record (deaths) some ----- ----- ----- none
42. Domestic animals (eg, dogs) many ----- ----- ----- none
43. Noise (cars, nearby highways, trains) much ----- ----- ----- little
44. Noise (eg, crowds, radios) much ----- ----- ----- little
45. Presence of seawalls, riprap, concrete/rubble large amount ----- ----- ----- none
46. Intensity of beach use overcrowded ----- ----- ----- ample open space
47. Off-road vehicles common ----- ----- ----- none
48. Floatables in water (garbage, toilet paper) common ----- ----- ----- none
49. Public safety (eg, pickpockets, crime) common ----- ----- ----- rare
50. Competition for free use of beach (eg, fishermen, boaters, water-skiers) many ----- ----- ----- few

 


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