Several beaches are closed to the public across parts of Massachusetts on Wednesday. Here's where they are and why they are closed.

Heading into this weekend, 33 Massachusetts beaches are closed. Here's the full list. The following MA beaches, listed by town, are closed as of Thursday, July 24: Ashland: Hopkinton Reservoir Upper Beach (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Cook's Brook (Bacterial Exceedance) Winchendon: Lake Dennison State Park at North Camp Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)

Last year, the state reported the third highest rate ever of beaches testing positive for dangerous levels of bacteria.

Over half of all Massachusetts beaches had an unsafe level of fecal bacteria last year, and 47 beaches reached the danger zone at least a quarter of the time they were tested, according to a

On Tuesday, 54 beaches across the state are still closed, 37 of them due to high levels of bacteria in the water, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). Several factors, including stormwater runoff, agricultural runoff, sanitary sewer overflows, leaking sewer pipes and wildlife or animal waste, can cause this.

With consecutive days of fabulous weather, right now is undoubtedly the perfect time to enjoy the beaches in Massachusetts and get a little photosynthesis in. But the problem? Everybody is thinking the same. That inevitably means higher likelihood of massive crowds, and even oversize beach tents the size of living rooms.

As of Monday morning, there were 54 beaches closed across the Bay State, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s interactive beach water quality dashboard. Nearly all of those bodies of water are closed due to harmful bacteria levels, the dashboard indicated.

This short but worthwhile drive around an underrated corner of the Bay State offers stops at pretty seaside towns, stunning beaches, and seafood options.