One of the safest countries in the world is also famed for having one of the most dangerous beaches. According to health insurance experts at William Russell, Iceland is officially the safest country in Europe. The country has held its position at the top for more than a decade due to its consistently low crime rates and strong justice system.

It also has one of the lowest incarceration rates in the world with just 37 inmates per 100,000 people. Despite this, Iceland is also home to one of the most dangerous beaches in the world, where massive swells can sneak up on people and sweep them out to sea.

Reynisfjara, on the south coast of Iceland, may be dangerous but it was also voted one of the best beaches in Europe by Tripadvisor in 2023 due to its incredible natural beauty.

The beach has amazing black sands, towering basalt pillars and a wild, tumbling ocean.

However, visitors are urged to never turn their backs to the water. The waves at this beach can reach up to 120 feet, and “sneaker waves” have been known to sweep people off the beach.

If you are sucked out, strong currents and the freezing temperature of the water would give you hypothermia in a matter of minutes.

The black sand beach is infamous for sneaker waves (also known as sleeper, king, or rogue waves) — massive coastal waves that appear unexpectedly among smaller ones.

These waves are significantly larger than the others, surging much farther inland. They’re unpredictable and can come at any time.

Reynisfjara is also prone to danger of rock falls from the cliffs above. As this beach is so dangerous, it has its own traffic light system to allow people to access the beach safely.

When the yellow light is on, visitors must not enter the yellow zone. When the red light is on, visitors must not enter the red zone (stay behind the light sign).