Gulf of Mexico
On April 20, 2010, an explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon killed 11 crew members and set off a massive blaze. The rig sank two days later into the Gulf of Mexico, unleashing a gush of oil that has continued to leak at an alarming rate.
Gulf War Oil Spill
In January 1991, Iraqi forces released 240 million gallons of crude oil into the Persian Gulf to thwart an amphibious landing by the U.S. Marines. The resulting oil slick ravaged the area's marine ecosystem, killing thousands of seabirds and endangering other wildlife.
Ixtoc I
The exploratory oil well Ixtoc I exploded in the Gulf of Mexico on June 3, 1979, spewing 140 million gallons of oil into the open sea. It took control experts more than nine months to cap the spill and begin cleanup.
The Atlantic Empress
& the Aegean Captain
On July 19, 1979, two supertankers collided off the Caribbean island of Little Tobago during a tropical rainstorm. The accident killed 26 crew members and dumped millions of gallons of crude oil into the sea.
Fergana Valley
In March 1992, 88 million gallons of oil spilled from a well in Fergana Valley, a densely populated industrial and agricultural zone in Uzbekistan. It remains the largest inland oil spill in history.
M/T Haven
The M/T Haven, a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), suffered a huge explosion off the coast of Genoa, Italy, on April 11, 1991. Six crew members were killed, and the Mediterranean coasts of Italy and France remained polluted for the next 12 years.
Nowruz Oil Field
On February 10, 1983, at the height of the Iran-Iraq War, an oil tanker collided with the Nowruz platform in the Persian Gulf. It took Iranian workers more than six months to cap the well, with 11 people dying in the process.
ABT Summer
The Liberian supertanker ABT Summer exploded off the coast of Angola on May 28, 1991, killing five crew members. Millions of gallons of oil leaked into the Atlantic Ocean.
Castillo de Bellver
On August 6, 1983, a fire aboard the Spanish tanker Castillo de Bellver caused an explosion that spilled 78 million gallons of oil off the coast of Cape Town. A shift in winds pushed the oil offshore, limiting the disaster's environmental effects.
Amoco Cadiz
On March 16, 1978, the Amoco Cadiz supertanker wrecked off the coast of Portsall, France. Ultimately, 240 miles of France's Brittany coast suffered oil damage, with millions of dead mollusks and sea urchins washing ashore.
Odyssey
In November 1988, the American-owned Odyssey drilling rig burst into flames and split in two off the coast of Novia Scotia. The accident killed one person and poured 43 million gallons of oil into the sea.
History's Worst Oil Spills
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has already taken its place among the worst disasters of its kind, and may even unseat the infamous Gulf War spill as the worst of all time. See how it stacks up against the most devastating oil spills in history.
Interactives (1)
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History's Worst Oil Spills
History's Worst Oil SpillsInteractive
Videos (2)
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Salt Marsh Oil Spill
Salt Marsh Oil SpillVideo Clip (3:34)
Video Clip (3:34)
Woods Hole scientist Chris Reddy explains how an oil spill can have a lasting effect on the marine ecosystem.
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Alaskan Pipeline
Alaskan PipelineVideo Clip (4:11)
Video Clip (4:11)
The transatlantic pipeline in Alaska carries 380 million gallons of oil at any given moment. Without anyone to maintain it, devastating accidents and spills are inevitable.
Photo Galleries (1)
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Oil Spills
Oil Spills(7 Photos)
7 Photos
One of the most devastating forms of pollution, oil spills wreak havoc on marine ecosystems. They have a detrimental effect on plant life and endanger the lives of birds, fish and other animals.
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