Deepwater Horizon (IMAGE)

University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science

Deepwater Horizon

Caption

On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, releasing 210 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico for a total of 87 days, making it the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Oil slicks from the blowout covered an estimated area of 57,000 square miles (149,000 square kilometers).

Credit

US Coast Guard

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