###The Exploding Whale
Florence, Oregon, 1970 — To get rid of a massive beached whale, highway engineers decided to blow it to pieces with a half-ton of dynamite.
In November 1970, a 45-foot, 8-ton sperm whale washed ashore on an Oregon beach. As it sat in the sun, the massive carcass created an unbearable, rotting stench. The Oregon State Highway Division was put in charge of the cleanup, and engineer George Thornton hatched a highly unusual plan.
Thornton decided to pack a half-ton of dynamite under the whale. The theory was that a massive blast would vaporize the beast into tiny, bite-sized snacks for local seagulls. Despite a military veteran warning them that they were using way too much explosive, the highway workers cleared the beach and pushed the plunger.
The explosion did not vaporize the whale. Instead, it launched colossal chunks of rotting blubber hundreds of feet into the air. Screaming spectators had to sprint for their lives as a disgusting rain of heavy, foul-smelling whale meat battered the town.
The Exploding Whale — Florence, Oregon, 1970