Dr. Beach rates top 10 U.S. beaches

United Press International
Wednesday, May 25, 2005 12:00 a.m. | Wednesday, May 25, 2005 12:00 a.m.

Hanauma Bay in Hawaii has the best beach in the United States, a Florida professor and author says.

Stephen "Dr. Beach" Leatherman, of the International Hurricane Center at Miami's Florida International University, used 50 factors ranging from beach size to pollution to come up with his Top 10 U.S. beaches.

While Hawaii's Hanauma Bay tops the annual list, Florida has the most representatives: No. 2 Fort Desoto Park, No. 4 Caladesi Island State Park, No. 7 Crescent Beach on Siesta Key and No. 9 Cape Florida State Recreation Area.

North Carolina's Oracoke Island came in at No. 3, New York's Main Beach in East Hampton was No. 5, Hawaii's Hanalei Beach was No. 6, Massachusetts' Coast Guard Beach at Cape Cod was No. 8 and California's Coronado Beach was No. 10.

Leatherman also has written a book on the subject, "America's Best Beaches."

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