1	GREAT DISASTER: Exxon Valdez Oil spill By Catherine March 2005
2	an oil spill An oil spill is when a tanker ship gets damaged and spills its oil into the ocean. Then, all the oil spreads onto the beaches and harms the animals. They happen more than 1000 times a year and about 556,000 gallons are spilled.
3	Location The Exxon Valdez spilled at Prince William Sound, Alaska. Miles of shoreline was covered in oil.
4	Still oily for 16 years The oil spill happened March 24, 1989. Volunteers have tried to wash the oil for three years and they ended in 1992. People are still trying to restore the environment.
5	Why it all began… The accident happened because the Exxon Valdez ship crashed into a reef off the coast of Prince William Sound. Hazelwood was the pilot, but he had been drinking, and felt drowsy. He probably didn’t notice the reef. The reef caused the ship to get a gash and 11 million gallons spilled out.
6	What were the damages? The spill totally contaminated Prince William Sound. 3,000 square miles were covered in oil. Fortunately, no humans died, but 280,000 animals were killed. Many were covered in oil. The Exxon company had to pay 2 billion dollars for the damages!
7	Could this disaster have been avoided? Definitely! If the pilot wasn’t intoxicated and watched carefully, he wouldn’t have crashed into the reef. Not enough people were there to help steer off the ship.
8	What has happened since the disaster? Since the disaster, volunteers have tried to clean up the oil, but the sea will always be contaminated. Only 3 of 36 animals have been recovered.
9	Bibliography Page 306 of the 2005 world Almanac World book, section A, page 304 Pictures from: http://www.evostc.state.ak.us/facts/photos.html