On May 28, 1987, the Amoco Cadiz, a supertanker, ran aground off the coast of Brittany, France, spilling 68 million gallons of crude oil into the sea. The spill devastated the marine ecosystem, killing thousands of marine animals and damaging coastal industries. The spill also created a massive cleanup operation that took months and cost billions of dollars. The disaster became one of the largest oil spills in history and prompted international legislation on oil spill prevention and response. The impact on local communities and the environment was felt for decades.