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Torrey Canyon oil spill
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Torrey Canyon oil spill

environmental disaster, off the coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom [1967]
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Quick Summary

The Torrey Canyon oil spill occurred in 1967 off the coast of Cornwall, England. This environmental disaster involved the grounding of the supertanker Torrey Canyon, which spilled approximately 119,000 metric tons of crude oil. The spill polluted coastlines in Cornwall, the Channel Islands, and Brittany, France. Attempts to disperse the oil slicks using powerful solvents were found to be more harmful to the environment than the oil itself. This event, along with other major spills like the Amoco Cadiz and Exxon Valdez, led to significant changes in shipping regulations and the organization of responses to ecological emergencies.12

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. oil spill
  2. Exxon Valdez oil spill
  3. Alternative Energy - January 28, 1969 - Santa Barbara Oil Spill Draws National Attention

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