VOA慢速英语2021--Best Beaches in the US and the World

"Dr. Beach," a self-described coastal¹ expert, has named Hapuna Beach of Hawaii as the best beach in the United States for 2021.

In his yearly ranking of the best beaches, he said Hapuna Beach, with its white sand and black lava² rocks, "is a perfect place to swim, snorkel³ or scuba⁴ dive." On big wave days, try the boogie boards, he added.

Visitors to Hawaii and its beaches, however, are required to get tested for COVID-19 whether they are vaccinated⁵ or not. "Hawaii is a really special place, and so I think it's worth it," he told the Associated Press.

Kandi Miranda owns Manuela Malasada Company and runs a food truck near Hapuna Beach State Park. Born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, she was able to stay open for locals throughout the pandemic and is hopeful about the return of visitors.

Miranda described Hapuna Beach as "magical." She added, "The ocean in general in our culture is a really powerful place."

"Dr. Beach" is also known as Stephen Leatherman, a professor at Florida International University. Leatherman has reviewed and rated beaches around the world for over 30 years.

Leatherman uses 50 criteria⁶ to come up with his yearly lists. They include cleanliness, smell, sand quality, water temperature and safety.

Recently, Leatherman has added a new one on whether smoking is permitted on the beach. "First of all, it's a health issue," he said of cigarette smoke. And he worried that people would leave cigarette waste on beaches.

The other top beaches on this year's list include Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Hawaii and Coopers Beach in New York. There are two in the state of Florida, St. George Island State Park and Caladesi Island State Park. To the north on the Atlantic coast are Beachwalker Park in South Carolina and Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach and Lighthouse Beach in North Carolina. Others include Coronado Beach in San Diego, California, and Coast Guard Beach in Cape⁷ Cod⁸, Massachusetts.

None of Leatherman's choices, however, made it to the list of the top 25 beaches in the world on Tripadvisor. The travel website uses information from its users to rate and review its "Travelers' Choice" top beaches.

Tripadvisor says the best beach in the world is Whitehaven Beach in Australia. Santa Maria Beach of Mexico, Baia do Sancho of Brazil and Grace Bay Beach of Turks and Caicos Islands are next. St. Pete Beach of Florida, which did not even make "Dr. Beach's" list, is rated as the fifth-best in the world.

No matter what beach is on your list, Leatherman advises beach-goers to observe social distancing at all times. He also says to bring along sun protection and, yes, cloth, face coverings!

Words in This Story

snorkel –v. to swim underwater using a tube to breathe

scuba dive –v. an activity in which you swim underwater using tanks and tubes worn on you back

criterion⁹ (ia) –n.(pl.) something that is used as a reason form making a judgment¹⁰ or decision

review –n. something that is used for making a judgement or decision

1 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

2 lava   

n.熔岩，火山岩

参考例句：

• The lava flowed down the sides of the volcano.熔岩沿火山坡面涌流而下。
• His anger spilled out like lava.他的愤怒像火山爆发似的迸发出来。

3 snorkel   

n.泳者所戴的通气管，潜水艇的吸、排气装置

参考例句：

• With a snorkel,however,a diver can stay under water for quite a long time.潜水员携带一根通气管就可以在水下呆很长时间。
• I did buy a mask and fins and a snorkel.我买了面镜、蛙鞋和一个呼吸管。

4 scuba   

n.水中呼吸器

参考例句：

• I first got hooked on scuba diving when I was twelve.12岁时我开始迷上了带水中呼吸器潜水。
• While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。

5 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

6 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

7 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

8 cod   

n.鳕鱼；v.愚弄；哄骗

参考例句：

• They salt down cod for winter use.他们腌鳕鱼留着冬天吃。
• Cod are found in the North Atlantic and the North Sea.北大西洋和北海有鳕鱼。

9 criterion   

n.（批评判断的）标准，准据，规范

参考例句：

• Only social practice can be the criterion of truth.只有社会实践才能是检验真理的唯一标准。
• Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.实践是检验真理的唯一标准。

10 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。