Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Definition

The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska, in March 1989 when an oil tanker owned by Exxon Shipping Company struck a reef and spilled 10.8 million gallons of crude oil over 1,300 miles of coastline.

Analogy

Think about spilling a large bucket full of black paint on your favorite mural wall (the pristine Alaskan coastline). Not only does it ruin its beauty but also makes it hard for any new art (wildlife) to thrive there again.

Related terms

ExxonMobil Corporation: An American multinational oil and gas corporation which owned Exxon Shipping Company responsible for one of history's most disastrous oil spills.

Oil Tanker Safety Regulations: Rules designed to prevent accidents like this one. After the Exxon Valdez spill, these regulations were significantly tightened.

Marine Pollution: The harmful effects of human activity on the ocean environment, including oil spills like the Exxon Valdez incident.