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 (13)
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Saving the Wetlands
Saving the WetlandsVideo Clip (3:01)
Video Clip (3:01)
Restoring the U.S. wetlands can help protect us from future catastrophic floods.
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Wind Farms
Wind FarmsVideo Clip (3:14)
Video Clip (3:14)
Wind power is there for the taking. See how engineers harvest this abundant source of energy for the good of our planet.
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Global Warming
Global WarmingVideo Clip (2:59)
Video Clip (2:59)
How the Earth was Made shows us how global warming has changed the face of the Earth forever.
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Farms Harvest Wind For Energy
Farms Harvest Wind For EnergyVideo Clip (4:28)
Video Clip (4:28)
Just west of Palm Springs California stands one of the most productive farms in the country, a wind farm with its machines being some of the biggest in the world. Discover how they work in this Modern Marvels video.
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Wind Turbines
Wind TurbinesVideo Clip (3:36)
Video Clip (3:36)
The wind turbines in Palm Springs, California, will continue powering the city for some time after humans are gone, but the wind that powers them may actually be what also leads to their destruction.
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Green Algae
Green AlgaeVideo Clip (3:05)
Video Clip (3:05)
Algae may be the key to a greener environment.
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Light Energy: A Bright Future
Light Energy: A Bright FutureVideo Clip (1:58)
Video Clip (1:58)
Solar energy has a bright future. See how engineers harness this clean source of power that helps renew our planet.
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Air Power
Air PowerVideo Clip (1:39)
Video Clip (1:39)
Wind energy may soon become the most cost-effective source of electricity in the United States. See how engineers harness the power.
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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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Global Warming: Looking for Proof
Global Warming: Looking for ProofVideo Clip (2:42)
Video Clip (2:42)
Researchers investigate Kilimanjaro and the Andes looking for evidence of Global Warming.
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Al Gore Discusses Global Warming
Al Gore Discusses Global WarmingVideo Clip (2:00)
Video Clip (2:00)
In this History Uncut video clip, watch actual video footage of Al Gore in 1997 as he presents a speech on global warming and climate change.
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Al Gore on Climate Change
Al Gore on Climate ChangeVideo Clip (4:22)
Video Clip (4:22)
In this History Uncut video clip, watch actual video footage of Al Gore in 1997 as he presents a speech on global warming and climate change.
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Climate Change and Evolution
Climate Change and EvolutionVideo Clip (2:41)
Video Clip (2:41)
A look at how a period of climate change millions of years ago impacted evolution.
Photo Galleries (2)
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Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy(5 Photos)
5 Photos
Usable energy derived from replenishable sources such as the Sun (solar energy), wind (wind power), rivers (hydroelectric power), hot springs (geothermal energy), tides (tidal power), and biomass (biofuels).
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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.
Speeches & Audio (1)
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Margaret Mead Speaks at First Earth Day
Margaret Mead Speaks at First Earth DayAudio Clip (0:42)
Audio Clip (0:42)
On April 22, 1970, noted anthropologist and outspoken environmentalist Margaret Mead inaugurates the first Earth Day, an event to increase public awareness of the world's environmental problems.
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