Coopers Beach in the Hamptons tops list of best US beaches

Coopers Beach in the Hamptons on Long Island, where New York's wealthy spend their summers, has beaten oceanfronts in Florida and Hawaii to be named the best beach in the United States.

The Top 10 Beaches ranking, now in its 20th year, is produced by Dr Stephen Leatherman, director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research, using 50 criteria and released to coincide with the start of the summer vacations.

The evaluation criteria include water and sand quality, environmental management, litter, number of waves, smells, wildlife, and the presence of jellyfish and seaweed.

It is the first time that a New York beach has headed the annual list.

Coopers Beach, a large, white sand beach, is the main beach in the village of Southampton in the Hamptons, a string of hamlets and villages along the Atlantic Ocean coast of Long Island, New York.

The beach is backed by large sand dunes covered by American beach grass, interspersed with large and extravagant mansions with a snack bar on the sand serving lunch and drinks, Leatherman said.

"This (award) is really a reflection of the people in our community who respect the beach and take care of it," said Mark Epley, mayor of Southampton Village, in a statement.

In second place came Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida, while Coronado Beach, San Diego, California came third.

The fourth slot went to Cape Hatteras, at Outers Banks, North Carolina while another New York beach came fifth in the list -- Main Beach in the village of East Hampton.

Rounding out the top 10 were Hawaii's Kahanamoku and Hamoa beaches, Cape Cod's Coast Guard Beach, Beachwalker Park in South Carolina, and Cape Florida State Park in Florida.