Twenty-five years ago on March 24th, the Exxon Valdez supertanker struck a reef and spilled an estimated 11 million gallons of crude oil.<br/> <br />It was one of the largest oil spills in U.S. history, affecting 1,300 miles of coastline.<br/> <br />It was bound for California when it struck a reef in Alaska. In just four days, the oil was 37 miles -- or 59 km -- from the spill site.<br/> <br />By day 56, a sheen of oil stretched 470 miles.<br/> <br />Images such as these saddened environmentalists. Local wildlife like sea otters, several species of whales, sea lions and waterfowl were threatened.<br/> <br />Only in 2010, did the BP oil spill succeed Exxon Valdez as the largest in U.S. history.
