Twenty-fifth anniversary of Exxon Valdez spill

Twenty-five years ago on March 24th, the Exxon Valdez supertanker struck a reef and spilled an estimated 11 million gallons of crude oil.

It was one of the largest oil spills in U.S. history, affecting 1,300 miles of coastline.

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.

By day 56, a sheen of oil stretched 470 miles.

Images such as these saddened environmentalists. Local wildlife like sea otters, several species of whales, sea lions and waterfowl were threatened.

Only in 2010, did the BP oil spill succeed Exxon Valdez as the largest in U.S. history.