One Year Later: Photos Of Oil Washing Onto Pensacola Beach

June 25, 2011

It was the day that the World’s Whitest Beaches were no more. It was the day that the oil began to wash onto the shores of Pensacola Beach. It was the day the sands were stained black with oil; it was the day the tears of the locals stained the remaining sugar white sand.

One year ago this week, masses of oil began to wash onto Pensacola Beach from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Walnut Hill resident Regina Hare was there and submitted a gallery of photos for NorthEscambia.com readers. She titled the photos “It’s hard to say goodbye”.

One year later, the beach has returned to an apparent state of clean, bright white sand.  But, in retrospect, we wanted to share the photo gallery from one year ago.

Click here for the photos “It’s hard to say goodbye”.

Submitted photos by Regina Hare for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

9 Responses to “One Year Later: Photos Of Oil Washing Onto Pensacola Beach”

  1. poohbear on June 25th, 2011 5:11 pm

    Thank you William for reminding us that we have so much to be thankful for. It could have been like the Valdez, but wasn’t.

  2. JIM W on June 25th, 2011 3:24 pm

    He who forgets history will repeat history! Enough said.

  3. Susan on June 25th, 2011 2:54 pm

    I agree with all of you. I grew up on the beach and still have a condo there. Took the kids out there a couple of weeks ago and it is NOT the same beach it used to be and it is because of the OIL. Wake up!

  4. clint on June 25th, 2011 2:30 pm

    lighten up Zeeva. The Gulf puts 1 million bbls. of oil in the water naturally over a years time.

  5. Zeeva on June 25th, 2011 11:37 am

    clint…laying a layer of clean fresh sand is simply a cosmetic soltution–let it go? are you kidding? Just Saying is right–you can’t stick your head in the sand to pretend it didn’t happen–just under that layer of clean white that’s making you feel so warm & fuzzy? It’s all toxic oily & black….
    this is so sad & scandalous that our own govts are allowing this damaging of our people, our lands, our ecosystems…

  6. MicheleG on June 25th, 2011 8:55 am

    beauty is only skin deep. That oil is still there just under the water!

  7. Houndstooth on June 25th, 2011 8:47 am

    I have been out in the water at Pensacola beach a few times this year to snorkle and everytime, I have found “tar balls” as recent as last weekend. Some are larger than golf balls. I have also found a bunch of hermit crabs with oil/tar on their shells. It’s still there, I don’t see how anyone could just “let it go.”

  8. Just Saying on June 25th, 2011 8:35 am

    Those that would ignore history are doomed to repeat it. You can’t stick your head in the sand and pretend it didn’t happen.

  9. clint on June 25th, 2011 6:14 am

    I do not understand posting these nasty pics of the beach! It is beautiful now. Let it go!!!