Orlando, Florida
As the home of the most popular mouse in the world, Orlando probably attracts more tourists than any other city in the United States. In 2018 alone, it had more than 68 million domestic visitors and almost 6.5 million international visitors. As we all know, Orlando is where Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld are all located, so these numbers are expected. Unfortunately, because the area draws in so many tourists, there’s a higher chance that fatal accidents will occur.
What makes Orlando so dangerous? Simply walking around the streets. Statistics have found that Orlando is the most vulnerable area for pedestrians, with 656 fatalities between 2008 and 2017. It seems that drivers in Florida may need to go back and take some more driver’s ed classes. Of the top 10 deadliest areas for pedestrians in America, eight of them are in Florida.
Gauley River, West Virginia
The heavy promotion of extreme sports in hotels and online leads many tourists to believe these experiences are entirely safe. White water rafting is just one example where people can find themselves in over their heads. The Gauley River in West Virginia has several legendary rapids that attract thrill-seekers from all over, but the Pillow Rock rapid tops them all.
The Class V rapid boasts a 30-foot drop down a narrow chute into the rough waters below, often referred to as “riding the pillow.” Even the most experienced guides have difficulty making it down the Pillow Rock rapid without an issue. While there haven’t been many deaths at the hand of the Gauley River, there have been enough to call the tourist attraction dangerous. The most common cause of death tends to be getting an arm or leg stuck between rocks after falling into the water.
The Big Island, Hawaii
Most people know that Hawaii is made up of a group of eight islands, but few know that the islands are all made up of volcanic rock. This means that visitors and residents can expect occasional volcanic activity. Recently, the Big Island has been experiencing more volcanic activity than usual, scaring off many tourists.
Even though experts have said that volcanic eruptions only affect a small portion of the island, the number of tourists visiting the Big Island has dropped by half. Why take the risk when there are seven other islands that offer similar accommodations and experiences?
Sedan Crater, Nevada
There are numerous atomic bomb testing sites around Nevada that attract tourists, one being the Sedan Crater. Located roughly 12 miles southwest of Area 51, the crater was created on July 6, 1962, by an underground thermonuclear explosion. The resulting pit is roughly 1,280 feet wide and 320 feet deep, and is the largest human-made crater in the United States. The mushroom cloud this blast created obscured a radius of five miles and had the highest measured radioactive effects of all nuclear tests performed in the United States.
These days, roughly 10,000 people are taken on tours to the Sedan Crater each year, which is a lot considering tours are only available once or twice a month. The area is so popular among tourists that there’s even a one-year waiting list. While the radioactivity levels surrounding the crater have been deemed safe for visitors, there’s still some debate as to whether or not that’s true. It has been found that radioactive remnants from decades of nuclear bomb tests may remain in underground detonation sites, which would pertain to Sedan Crater. Visitors are welcome, but perhaps at their own risk!
Maroon Bells, Colorado
Maroon Bells consists of two peaks along the Elk Mountains in Colorado. While they may seem ordinary enough, they’re actually made of a fragile substance referred to as mudstone. Tourists who are unaware of this are often taken by surprise when the ground easily crumbles beneath them. As you can imagine, this can be extremely dangerous when hiking on a surface you expect to support your weight.
In addition to crumbling beneath hikers' feet, the mudstone has also led to many injuries after it falls, hitting people on its way down. It wasn’t until 1965 when accidents in the area began to be reported that people were made aware of the dangers of Maroon Bells. That year alone, eight hikers died after losing their footing on the mudstone.