In the annals of “what-were-they-thinking” moments, few stories rival the legendary exploding whale incident of 1970. Picture this: a massive 45-foot sperm whale washes up on an Oregon beach, creating a stench so powerful it could knock out a seagull at 50 paces.

The local highway department, in their infinite wisdom, decided that dynamite was the perfect solution to this marine mammal problem. Because nothing says “responsible wildlife management” like half a ton of explosives, right?

The Blast Heard 'Round the World

George Thornton, the engineer behind this brilliant plan, thought he could solve the whale carcass issue by essentially turning it into marine confetti. His strategy? Blow the whale into tiny pieces that seagulls and crabs could feast upon. Spoiler alert: it did not go according to plan.

Blubber Roulette

When the dynamite detonated, instead of a neat, tidy disposal, whale chunks rained down like a grotesque marine piñata. Spectators who thought they were safe a quarter-mile away found themselves covered in whale goo. One massive chunk even flattened a car’s roof - talk about unexpected auto body modifications.

Internet Fame Before Internet Fame

Before viral videos were a thing, this bizarre event became an early internet sensation. Humor writer Dave Barry helped spread the story, leading to confused people calling the highway department decades later, wondering about this insane whale explosion.

George Thornton, the mastermind behind this blubber blowout, spent years avoiding discussions about the incident. His classic quip? Every time he talked about it, “it blew up in my face”. Pun absolutely intended.

Sometimes, human problem-solving goes spectacularly wrong - and we’re here for the entertainment.