Hollywood has capitalized on the fear of sharks with classic hit movies such as “Jaws,” where a great white preys on innocent, unsuspecting beach-goers, firmly establishing that we never know what may be lurking in the water.

Nonetheless, Americans flock to the beaches in Florida, South Carolina, or Hawaii every year. And while a recent study found that great white sharks have become increasingly abundant along the Atlantic coast this year, unprovoked shark attacks are relatively uncommon.

According to the International Shark Attack File, there were 47 unprovoked shark attacks in the United States in 2013, and 72 unprovoked attacks worldwide. In general, the number of worldwide, unprovoked shark attacks has grown steadily since 1900, with each decade having more attacks than the previous. But according to the International Shark Attack File, this number probably has more to do with an increasing amount of time humans spend in the ocean.

While the global human population continues to rise, shark populations are actually declining due to over-fishing and habitat loss. The abundance of sharks in a particular geographic area is due more to meteorological and oceanographic conditions, increasing the odds of encounter in certain locations around the globe.

North American waters, though, are most common for shark attacks, making United States more vulnerable for close encounters with sharks. While a shark attack is unlikely, beach-goers should be careful. The risk of shark attacks can be further reduced if swimmers take precautions:

Always swim in a group, especially since sharks are more likely to attack a solitary individual
Avoid swimming in the dark or at twilight hours, as this is when sharks are most active and have a sensory advantage over humans
Do not wander too far from shore
Do not enter the water if bleeding from an open wound, as the blood attacks sharks
Avoid wearing shiny jewelry in the water, as the sheen from reflected light can resemble fish scales
Try to avoid murky waters or those being used by commercial fishermen
Be careful in areas between sandbars or near steep drop-offs, as sharks are more likely to frequent these waters
Do not go in the water if sharks are known to be present, and leave the water immediately if a shark sighting is reported.
Do not, under any circumstances, harass or provoke a shark if you see one

While shark attacks are more uncommon than being fatally struck by lightning, click through the following slides to see which states have reported the most unprovoked shark attacks from 1837 to 2013.

10. Alabama and New York – 8 attacks each

9. Georgia – 12 attacks

8. New Jersey – 15 attacks

7. Oregon – 26 attacks

6. Texas – 38 attacks

5. North Carolina – 48 attacks

4. South Carolina – 77 attacks

3. California – 110 attacks

2. Hawaii – 129 attacks

Hawaii experienced 13 attacks in 2013, which was the highest total since attacks in 2012 (ten attacks), and much higher than the stat's ten-year annual average, which hovers at just over four shark attacks annually.

Most shark encounters occur on the island of Maui, where four attacks were reported in 2013. Hawaii's only fatal attack of 2013 was also reported from Maui—the first in Hawaii since 2004.

The Big Island follows Maui with a reported four attacks in 2013, and single attacks were reported from Kauai and Oahu.

Chris Parypa Photography

1. Florida – 687 attacks

With nearly 1,400 miles of coastline, it is no surprise that Florida experiences the most unprovoked shark attacks out of any other state in the United States. Averaging 21 attacks per year (from 2003-2012), Florida experiences approximately 49% of the unprovoked attacks in the country.

Volusia County experiences the most incidents within the state of Florida, as the county has recorded more than a third of all of Florida's shark-human interactions to date. The frequency for attacks in Volusia County can be attributed to the recreational usage of the county's beautiful beaches by locals, tourists and surfers.

Special Reports /

Top 10 states for shark attacks

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