The World's Most Dangerous Waters: Where Storms and Currents Kill

Open water can be calm, generous, and beautiful, but it can also be one of the most lethal environments on Earth. The world's deadliest waters share a few common ingredients: powerful storms, fast-changing weather, dangerous currents, and unforgiving temperatures. Here are the bodies of water that consistently rank among the world's most dangerous, along with what makes each so risky.

1. The Drake Passage

The Drake Passage, between Cape Horn and Antarctica, is famous among sailors. Wind, current, and ocean topography combine to create some of the largest waves on the planet. The passage funnels the Antarctic Circumpolar Current through a narrow gap, and unimpeded westerly winds, known as the Roaring Forties, Furious Fifties, and Screaming Sixties, drive seas above 40 feet on a regular basis. Even modern cruise ships pitch heavily here.

2. The Bay of Bengal