Rain of whale meat: The explosive Oregon tale upgraded to 4K
54 years ago, the Oregon coast witnessed an astounding event that went down in history as the "Exploding Whale." In 2020, the Oregon Historical Society released footage of this extraordinary situation.
As reported by IFLScience, the highway patrol, under the guidance of the navy, attempted to remove a dead whale from the beach using dynamite. The result of this unconventional method was "whale meat rain," and AV Geeks from Raleigh, North Carolina, documented and upgraded the entire event to 4 K quality.
About 8 tons of meat
In November 1970, a roughly 8-ton (approximately 7,200 kg) sperm whale was beached in Oregon. After consulting with the navy, the local highway patrol decided to use explosives to address the problem. The plan involved using dynamite to disperse most of the whale carcass far into the sea. It was assumed that smaller, easier-to-digest pieces of the whale would benefit marine creatures.
Unexpected consequences of the unusual solution
Despite thorough consultations, the outcome of the explosion was vastly different than expected. Walt Umenhofer, an entrepreneur with experience in explosives, questioned the highway patrol's strategy, suggesting the use of less TNT. His advice, however, was disregarded, leading him to witness the catastrophic explosion from a safe distance.
When the dynamite was detonated, large chunks of whale blubber were thrown across great distances, causing damage to, among other things, Umenhofer's new car. Journalist Paul Linnman, in describing the event, likened the explosion to a "massive shot of tomato juice." Interestingly, despite the initial disaster, the Oregon community opted to celebrate this unusual event, making it part of their regional culture.
This unusual solution to the problem of a dead whale on an Oregon beach serves as a cautionary tale of how distinctive approaches to problem-solving can have both disastrous and culturally significant effects.
