The Challenger Disintegrates
Back in 1986, five NASA astronauts, along with two payload specialists, were on board the Challenger to go to outer space. Despite the shuttle having completed nine flights already, something went tragically wrong at the time. It disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean in 76 seconds. The cold weather caused the seals to fail. Within seconds, seven lives and more than $3.2 billion were lost. The tragic disaster led to a ban on takeoffs for three years.
The Challenger Disintegrates
Lake Peigneur Sinkhole
Up until 1980, Lake Peigneur was a popular spot in Iberia Parish. Then, the oil drilling above the underwater salt mine began. Suddenly, a massive sinkhole swallowed more than 65 acres of land around the lake, which turned the 10-foot deep water into a giant body of water 200 feet deep. Amazingly, 55 men who were working in the Texaco-operated mine at the time escaped unscathed. Texaco had to pay local businesses more than $50 million in damages.
Lake Peigneur Sinkhole
