An explosion on the BP operated Deepwater Horizon oil rig on April 20, 2010, has ignited the greatest environmental disaster in United States history. There are over 400 different species of animals living in the area -whales, dolphins, all types of fishes, turtles, manatees, birds, plankton, and so many more living things. All of these animals have been affected by the spill and hundreds of them have been found dead. Not only will they die but the next generation of these animals will never be born, because the eggs of these fishes and birds are dying as well.

To see how big the oil spill actually is click on this url and type in your city and state. Then click on ‘Move the Spill.’

http://www.ifitwasmyhome.com/

I put it in Laredo, Texas. It extended to the outskirts of San Antonio, around to Crystal City, into Mexico, Sabinas, Sabinas Hidalgo, back up to the United States to the town of Falfurrias and into the the city of Corpus Christi, up to a city called Cuaro and back around to San Antonio. The sheer size of it brought me to tears because I thought of all the animals it was killing. All the animals who have no voice.

This is not the first oil spill the United States has experienced. In 1989 we witnessed the “Exxon Valdez” oil spill. You can read about it The Exxon Valdez’s Deadly Oil Spill by Linda Ward Beech. The book discusses its causes, its impact on wildlife and the environment, and the aftermath.