Top 10 U.S. Shores of 2009

01 - Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii

The white-sand, crescent-shaped beach of Hanalei Bay in Kauai, Hawaii, (above, a woman dips her feet in the surf) has earned the title of best American beach in 2009, a coastal expert announced.

Stephen Leatherman, better known as Dr. Beach, has compiled his annual list of the top ten U.S. beaches for the past 19 years, rating coastlines on 50 criteria that include the presence of native plants, water quality, and overcrowding.

The 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) strand of Hanalei Bay--lined with palm trees and set against a backdrop of waterfalls and 4,000-foot (1,219-meter) mountain peaks--"is one of those places that people say is one of the most beautiful areas in Hawaii," said Leatherman, of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research.

Well off the beaten path, Hanalei Bay gets more rain than other Hawaiian islands and has "spectacular" plant and animal life, Leatherman added. Hanalei Bay moved up from second place in Dr. Beach's 2008 top ten ranking.

02 - Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida

With some of the finest, whitest sand in the world, Florida's Siesta Beach (above) came in second among this year's top ten beaches in the U.S., a coastal expert announced on May 22, 2009.

The beach's unpolluted sand and recreational opportunities--including unique underwater formations that attract snorkelers and scuba divers--led Stephen Leatherman, or Dr. Beach, to add Siesta to his annual list.

Leatherman judges beaches on 50 criteria, rating each variable on a one-to-five scale, with five being the highest. He takes off points for exotic plants, overcrowding, and too much development near the shoreline, among other factors.

03 - Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York

On the south shore of Long Island, New York, Coopers Beach (above) is surrounded by large sand dunes dotted with American beach grass.

The beach, made of grainy white-quartz sand, was selected as the third best U.S. beach of 2009 according to the Laboratory for Coastal Research's annual Top 10 Beaches ranking.

Each year 85 percent of people in the U.S. who go on vacation visit a beach, said coastal expert Stephen Leatherman, making the shore the number one recreational destination.

04 - Coronado Beach, San Diego, California

A "veritable oasis by the sea," San Diego's Coronado Beach (above, a man searches for sand dollars) has lush subtropical vegetation, a Mediterranean climate, and a warm and mild surf, according to coastal expert Stephen Leatherman.

A local landmark, the Hotel del Coronado, was built more than a hundred years ago and offers "spectacular" architecture, he added.

Leatherman rated Coronado as the fourth best beach in America in his list of the top ten beaches of 2009. The annual ranking, now in its 19th year, has a positive impact on the managers of poorer-quality beaches, he said.

"We're recognizing those great-quality beaches, and it's something for the others to aspire to."

05 - Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii

Ernest Hemingway once said that Hamoa Beach (above) was the world's best beach--so it's no surprise the coral-and-lava-sand shore made it on to the list of America's top ten beaches of 2009.

Hamoa is rimmed by cliffs and covered with coconut palms and "beautiful" flowering vegetation, said coastal expert Stephen Leatherman.

In judging a beach, Leatherman first examines whether there is clean sand and water. He uses U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data, for example, to determine a coastal area's water quality.

06 - Main Beach, East Hampton, New York

A 300-year-old conservation agreement has protected East Hampton's Main Beach from overdevelopment, earning it a spot on the 2009 Top 10 Beaches ranking.

Coastal expert Stephen Leatherman, who researches the annual list, takes points off for overdevelopment and overcrowding.

If beach blankets must be placed side-to-side - creating a patchwork-quilt effect - the beach is deemed overcrowded. Likewise, beaches with high-rises or buildings close to the water don't rank highly, Leatherman said.

Some resorts provide an "ecological buffer zone" between the hotels and the natural beach, he said, allowing native coastal vegetation to thrive.

07 - Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, North Carolina

The barrier island of Cape Hatteras was the first U.S. National Seashore, designated as part of a program that sets aside coastal areas for preservation.

With its historic fishing villages and some of the best surfing along the East Coast (above, surfers walk through beach grass), the cape was included in the 2009 Top 10 Beaches ranking, as judged by Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research.

Coastal expert Stephen Leatherman, who researched the list, plans to launch a new program that will allow beaches to become certified as environmentally safe destinations.

08 - Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida

A large offshore sand shoal makes the emerald-colored waters off Cape Florida State Park ideal for swimming for humans and sea life alike (above, two Atlantic green sea turtles are released into the ocean in 1983).

The park was designated as the eighth best U.S. beach on the 2009 Top 10 Beaches ranking.

The Cape Florida Lighthouse (above, in the distance) allows for a "breathtaking view of this beautiful beach," added coastal expert Stephen Leatherman, who helps compile the annual list for Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research.

09 - Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Accessible only by bicycle or shuttle bus, Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has coarse sand that creates steep slopes down to the water's edge.

Swimming is only possible during the summer, when water temperatures hover around 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 to 21.1 Celsius). At other times visitors can explore the old Coast Guard station atop the bluffs, which offers a sweeping view of the barrier islands and the bay.

Coastal expert Stephen Leatherman, who chose the beach as the ninth best in the U.S. for 2009, said that the overall popularity of beaches in general makes their conservation crucial.

"We're trying to [strike] a delicate balance between making the resource available and preserving the environment," he said.

10. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

South of Charleston, Beachwalker Park (above) is a public beach with plenty of recreational opportunities.

Visitors can canoe and kayak through tidal inlets - home to thousands of birds - or bike along the compact sand of the 10-mile (16.1-kilometer) barrier island.

The park was ranked tenth in the 2009 Top 10 Beaches list, compiled by coastal expert Stephen Leatherman of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research.

"I'm still in search of the perfect beach," Leatherman said. "The good news is I've found a lot of good ones in the U.S."

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10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World

01 - Box Jellyfish

The top prize for The World Most Venomous Animal,would go to the Box Jellyfish.

It has caused at least 5,567 recorded deaths since 1954.

Their venom is among the most deadly in the world. Its toxins attack the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. And the worst part of it is that jelly box venom is so overpoweringly painful, that human victims go in shock, drown or die of heart failure before even reaching shore. Survivors experience pain weeks after the contact with box jellies...

You have virtually no chance to survive the venomous sting, unless treated immediately. After a sting, vinegar should be applied for a minimum of 30 seconds. Vinegar has acetic acid, which disables the box jellys nematocysts that have not yet discharged into the bloodstream (though it will not alleviate the pain). Wearing panty hose while swimming is also a good prevention measure since it can prevent jellies from being able to harm your legs.

Jelly box can be found in the waters around Asia and Australia.

02 - King Cobra

The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the worlds longest venomous snake - growing up to 5.6 m (18.5 ft) in length.

Ophiophagus, literally means snake-eater as it eats other snakes.. One single bite of this deadly snake can easily kill a human.

This snake is even capable of killing a full-grown Asian Elephant within 3 hours if the larger animal is bitten in a vulnerable area such as the trunk.

Its venom is not as toxic as other venomous snakes, but King Cobra is capable of injecting 5 times more venom than black mamba and can result in mortality up to 5 times faster than that of the black mamba.

It is quite widespread, ranging across South and South-east Asia, living in dense highland forests.

03 - Marbled Cone Snail

This little beautiful looking Marbled Cone snail can be as deadly as any other animal on this list.

One drop of its venom is so powerful that it can kill more than 20 humans.

If you ever happen to be in warm salt water environment (where these snails are often found) and see it, dont even think of picking it up. Of course, the true purpose of its venom is to catch its prey.

Symptoms of a cone snail sting can start immediately or can be delayed in onset for days.

It results in intense pain, swelling, numbness and tingling. Severe cases involve muscle paralysis, vision changes and breathing failure.

There is no antivenom. However, only about 30 human deaths have been recorded from cone snail envenomation.

04 - Blue-Ringed Octopus


The Blue-Ringed Octopus is very small, only the size of a golf ball, but its venom is so powerful that can kill a human. Actually it carries enough poison to kill 26 adult humans within minutes, and there is no antidote. They are currently recognized as one of the worlds most venomous animals.

Its painless bite may seem harmless, but the deadly neurotoxins begin working immediately resulting in muscular weakness, numbness, followed by a cessation and breathing and ultimately death.

They can be found in tide pools in the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Australia.

05 - Death Stalker Scorpion


Contrarily to the popular belief most of the scorpions are relatively harmless to humans as stings produce only local effects (pain, numbness or swelling). However, the Death Starker Scorpion is highly dangerous species because its venom is a powerful cocktail of neurotoxins which causes an intense and unbearable pain, then fever, followed by coma, convulsions, paralysis and death. Fortunately, while a sting from this scorpion is extremely painful, it would be unlikely to kill a healthy, adult human. Young children, the old, or infirm (with a heart condition) are at the biggest risk.

Death stalker scorpions are spread in North Africa and Middle East.

06 - Stonefish


Maybe Stonefish would never win a beauty contest, but it would definitely win the top prize for being The World Most Venomous Fish.

Its venom causes such a severe pain that the victims of its sting want the affected limb to be amputated. It is described as the worst pain known to man.

It is accompanied with possible shock, paralysis, and tissue death. If not given medical attention within a couple of hours It can be fatal to humans.

Stonefish stores its toxins in gruesome-looking spines that are designed to hurt would-be predators.

Stonefish mostly live above the tropic of Capricorn, often found in the shallow tropical marine waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans, ranging from the Red Sea to the Queensland Great Barrier Reef.

07 - The Brazilian wandering spider

The Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria) or banana spider appears in the Guinness Book of World Records 2007 for the most venomous spider and is the spider responsible for most human deaths.

This spider is believed to have the most potent neurotoxic venom of any living spider. Only 0.006mg (0.00000021oz) is sufficient to kill a mouse.

They are also so dangerous because of their wandering nature. They often hide during daytime in highly populated areas inside houses, clothes, boots, and cars.

Its venomous bite causes not only intense pain, the venom of the spider can also cause priapism - uncomfortable erections lasting for many hours that lead to impotence.

08 - Inland Taipan

The prize for The Worlds Most Venomous Snake goes to the Inland Taipan of Australia.

Just a single bite from this snake contains enough venom to kill 100 human adults or an army of 250,000 mice.

Its venom is at least 200 - 400 times more toxic than a common cobra. The Inland Taiwans extremely neurotoxic venom can kill an adult human in as little as 45 minutes.

Fortunately this snake is very shy and there have been no documented human fatalities (all known bites were treated with antivenin).

09 - Poison Dart Frog


If you ever happen to be running through the rain forests somewhere in Central or South America, do not ever pick up beautiful and colorful frogs - it can be the Poison Dart Frog. This frog is probably the most poisonous animal on earth.

The 2 inch long (5cm) golden poison dart frog has enough venom to kill 10 adult humans or 20,000 mice. Only 2 micrograms of this lethal toxin (the amount that fits on the head of a pin) is capable of killing a human or other large mammal.

They are called dart frogs because indigenous Amerindians use of their toxic secretions to poison the tips of their blow-darts...

Poison dart frogs keep their poison in their skins and will sicken or kill anybody who touches or eats it.

10 - Puffer Fish

Puffer Fish are the second most poisonous vertebrate on earth (the first one is golden dart Frog).

The meat of some species is a delicacy in both Japan (as fugu) and Korea (as bok-uh) but the problem is that the skin and certain organs of many puffer fish are very poisonous to humans.

This puffy fish produce rapid and violent death...

Puffers poisoning causes deadening of the tongue and lips, dizziness, vomiting, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, and muscle paralysis. Victims die from suffocation as diaphragm muscles are paralyzed.

Most of the victims die after four to 24 hours.

There is no known antidote, Most deaths from fugu happen when untrained people catch and prepare the fish.

Statistics show that there were 20 to 44 incidents of fugu poisoning per year between 1996 and 2006 in all of Japan and up to six incidents per year led to death.

Since Fugus poison can cause near instantaneous death, only licensed chefs are allowed to prepare it.

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Top 10 Bath Styles

01 Clay Bath

02 Petroleum Bath

03 Wine Bath

04 Curry Bath

05 Beer Bath

06 Black Mud Bath

07 Milky Bath

08 Chocolate Bath

09 Tomato Bath

10 Creamy Cream Bath

10 Incredible Underground Lakes and Rivers

Far below the Earth's surface, where the sun rarely penetrates, is a world of twinkling glow worms, precious gems and limestone caves and mountains, a land inhabited by nature alone. Within this world are visions to rival many landscapes decorating our horizon; lakes lie still and calm, great networks of caves know no borders and rivers and rivulets carve an ever-evolving terrain.We invite you to explore this remarkable subterranean domain through these incredible images we've complied for your viewing pleasure.

01 Reed Flute Cave in Guilin, China was discovered during the Tang Dynasty almost 1,300 years ago. (Image by Ian Sewell)

02. Cheddar Gorge is Britain's biggest canyon and is found within the Cheddar Caves, where the UK's oldest complete human skeleton was found in 1903. Known as the Cheddar Man, the remains were estimated to be 9,000 years old.

03. Snowman-1

Hamilton Pool Preserve, in Austin, Texas, was created quite naturally when the dome of an underground cave collapsed revealing this stunning natural pool. It is now frequented by day-trippers and naturalists. That's naturalists not naturists, although no doubt someone has tried to go skinny dipping at one point!

Van Sutherland - Hamilton Pool from another perspective. When there's been heavy rainfall, 45ft waterfalls cascade from the rim of the cavern. It must be pretty spectacular when you're bathing.

04. Stuck in Customs

Stalagtites adorn the roof of Luray Caverns, Virginia, the still waters throwing a perfect reflection.

05 Ashley Dinges

Legend has it that early cavemen inhabited Wookey Caves in Somerset, England.

06 Wookey Caves

This underground lake in Mellisani Caves, near Kefalonia, was found when the roof of the cave collapsed after an earthquake in 1953.

07. Lechuguilla Cave, in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico is the fifth longest cave discovered yet at 120 miles (193 km) long and measures 489 metres (1,604 ft) deep, making it the deepest in continental United States.

08 Dave Bunnell

This underground lake near Macan Ché on the Yucatán Peninsula is one of many that are considered to be gifts from the gods by the Mayans, and therefore sacred.

09 Sanghavedanta

The limestone flow feeding into this underground lake in Mexico resembles a waterfall turned to stone. Maybe the Ice Queen is privy to this particular cavern?

10 Adam

How long must it have taken for this little waterfall in Banff, Canada, to make this underwater lake?

World's Most Expensive Whiskies.

On a recent trip to New York City a young man from Toronto stepped into Park Avenue Liquor Shop and bought a $10,000 bottle of single malt Scotch for his son.

"He wanted something very special," says Vice President Jonathan Goldstein, who sold him his second-to-last Macallan 50-year-old in its Lalique crystal decanter. "I don’t think he actually has a son--yet," says Goldstein. "In fact, I don't even think his wife is pregnant."

The man, barely 30, had flown into Manhattan but drove a rental car home to protect his purchase--one that will only increase in value until baby makes three.

01 - Macallan Fine & Rare, 1926 ($38,000 MSRP when released)

The oldest and most sought-after of Macallan's revolutionary Fine & Rare Collection is sold out. But for a mere $3,300 a dram, you can experience this unique Scotch whisky at the Old Homestead Steakhouse in the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J.

02 - The John Walker 1805 Pack ($20,000, according to manufacturer)

This cask-strength blend was specially created as an homage to John Walker. It's a blend of extremely rare whiskies, many from now-defunct distilleries and all ranging in age from 45 to 70 years old. Only 200 bottles exist, and none is for sale. Rather, each bottle will be presented, privately, to a select individual "who has made a significant contribution to modern life," says Brand Manager Bill Topf. Steve Fossett, the first person to zip around the world in a hot-air balloon was considered "bottle worthy." JW's keeping mum about other giftees.

03 - Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1937 [$20,000 (fetched at auction in NYC in 2006)]

Distilled in 1937, this spirit was aged in a hand-made oak cask for 64 years in a dunnage warehouse. In 2001, the cask yielded only 61 bottles of a rich and robust walnut-colored whisky with a nose of toffee, cinnamon and cloves and a sweet, cedar palate.

04 - The Balvenie Cask 191 ($13,000 at Park Avenue Liquor Shop in New York City)

On Jan. 26, 1952, cask No. 191, containing the last Balvenie single malt Scotch whisky from the 1950s, was laid down to mature in a single sherry cask in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. In 2002 the cask was emptied into just 83 bottles--the smallest Balvenie release ever. Only five bottles of this liquid, which hints at sherry and honey, were brought into the U.S. Each bottle is numbered, dipped in wax and hand-signed by Balwenie's master distiller.

05 - The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection, 1939, 40 Years Old ($10,125 MSRP)

A gentle step down from the 1926 Fine & Rare, the 1939 was first bottled in 1979, hence its designation as a "40 year old." In 2002, the entire Fine & Rare Collection was rebottled. Macallan describes it as having peaty and powerful wood flavors tinged with sweet toffee and dried fruits.

06 - Macallan Lalique. Current value: $10,000; (MSRP: $5,995)

In 2006, Macallan released its limited edition 50-year-old whisky in a sleek, specially designed Lalique crystal decanter and slapped a near-$6,000 price tag on it. Now this deep amber single-malt whisky--made with Golden Promise barley and with palatal notes of cumin, cardamom, dark prunes and chocolate--retails for almost double that.

07 - Bowmore 40-Year-Old ($7,000 MSRP)

This liquid spent the first 20 years of its life in a Spanish sherry butt, which in 1975 sprung a leak. Since no more sherry casks were available, the spirit was transferred to a bourbon cask, where it stayed 20 more years. No one knew how to inventory the barrel, so it was left to mature in a corner of the warehouse. Sometime in the late 1980s, Bowmore realized it had a most unusual whisky in the making and released it close to 10 years later.

08 - Johnnie Walker Blue Label Anniversary Pack ($3,500 MSRP)

Jonathan Goldstein, vice president at Park Avenue Liquor Shop, says this whisky--a limited-edition cask strength of their flagship blend, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, has been selling briskly. It comes in an original decanter created and engraved by Baccarat. Only 675 bottles of this premium blend (marked 1805-2005) were made available for sale in the U.S.

09 - Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1964 ($2,000 MSRP)

Over the years it has been a tradition at the Glenlivet Distillery for the master distiller to hand-select the most exceptional casks to be set aside to mature in the Glenlivet cellar. These casks were stored in the original warehouses built in 1858. For the past 150 years, the cool, damp environment has yielded whisky of distinct quality. The whiskies from these special stocks are bottled in a limited quantity. In 2004, when the 1964 vintage reached its peak of maturity, Glenlivet created 1,824 numbered bottles of this classic speyside whisky, of which only 800 were made available.