The cover story on this month’s issue of National Geographic is about the ecological and economic impact of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico. As a supplement to the main article, National Geographic has an interactive illustration of the layers of marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. Click on one of the four layers in the illustration to see the animals affected by the oil spill.

In addition to the interactive illustration, National Geographic has maps of the areas affected by the oil spill and photo galleries related to the oil spill. Finally, for comparison purposes you can also find articles and photo galleries from the Exxon Valdez oil spill. All of those resources can be found in the NGM Gulf Spill Hub.

Applications for Education
NGM’s interactive illustration could be a way for students to get a quick overview of the ecological impact of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The NGM Gulf Spill Hub’s inclusion of Exxon Valdez oil spill articles gives teachers a resource they can use for lessons comparing the impacts of the two spills.

Here are some related items that may be of interest to you:
First-hand Accounts of the Oil Spill’s Impact
The Day the Water Died – Examining the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Where Does Oil Come From?