Exxon Valdez Research Paper

The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred on March the 24, in 1989. Nearly 11 million gallons of oil were spilled into the Bligh Reef in Prince William’s Sound, in Alaska when the Exxon oil tanker, Valdez, grounded, which raptured its hull, causing the crude oil that was collected from Prudhoe Bay to completely drain out into the reef. Prudhoe Bay, in Alaska, is the largest oil field in the United States, and even North America, covering a total of 213,543 acres. Before the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Exxon Valdez oil spill was the largest oil spill in history. The Deepwater Horizon spill, however, in comparison to the 11 million gallons that were spilled in the Exxon Valdez spill, which may seem like a lot of oil, the

But not only does oil affect the wildlife in the water, but also affects the wildlife surrounding that specific body of water. Oil destroys the insulating abilities of mammals that have fur, such as sea otters. Oil can also render a bird’s repellency of its feathers, completely useless, which creates an exposure to the harsh elements that surround them. Without these insulation and repelling abilities, fur-bearing mammals and birds usually die of hypothermia. Many birds also bathe in the water, and when oil is spilled in that water, the bird could possibly ingest some of the oil-contaminated water, which leads to poisoning, which leads to death. While fish and shellfish may not be affected immediately following the spill, the oil spreads through the water column, over time, which affects many fish and shellfish over a period of time. When exposed to oil, fish may experience reduced growth, enlarged livers, changes in heart respiration, fin erosion, and it could prevent any reproduction. The oil affects plants when it covers the plant, preventing the intake of sunlight, which leads to the process of photosynthesis coming to a halt. With many affects on the wildlife in or near a body of water with oil that has been spilled inside, cleanup is very