Shark Attacks reach 40 - year high in 2000
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Orlando Fla.  Seventy nine shark attacks, 10 of them fatal, were reported around the world last year, the highest number in the four decades that records have been kept.

Florida was No. 1 with 34 attacks, according to a report released Thursday by the International Shark Attack File. The file is a compilation of unprovoked shark attacks since 1958 and is at the University of Florida at Gainsville.  FLorida also had the lone U.S. death.

Florida is a much better chance of getting struck by lightening than being attacked by a shark," said Gary Violetta, curator of fishes at Sea World Orlando.  The United States had 51 attacks, followed by Australia with seven, South Africa with five and the Bahamas with four. In the United States, Florida was followed by North Carolina (5), California (3), Alabama (2), Hawaii (2) and Texas (2).
(Personal note: noticed non are from my home state or state now living in Maine and Virginia).

Fifty Eight attacks were reported in 1999.