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The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea

Boris Pasternak

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Published in Moby Duck: The True Story Of 28 800 Bath Toys Lost At Sea Of The Beachcombers Oceanograp Hers Environmentalists Fools Including The Author Who Went In Search Of Them

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In 1992, a container ship carrying 28,800 bath toys was lost at sea. The toys eventually made their way to beaches all over the world, providing oceanographers with a unique opportunity to study ocean currents and the movement of debris.

Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea & of the Beachcombers, Oceanograp hers, Environmentalists & Fools Including the Author Who Went in Search of Them

by Donovan Hohn

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1507 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	416 pages

The toys were made of a durable plastic called polyethylene, which is resistant to degradation. This allowed them to survive the harsh conditions of the ocean for many years.

The toys were first spotted in 1993 on the beaches of Alaska. Over the next few years, they began to appear on beaches all over the world, from the United States to Europe to Asia.

Oceanographers were initially puzzled by the appearance of the toys. They knew that the toys had been lost at sea, but they didn't know how they had traveled so far and wide.

In 1996, oceanographer Curtis Ebbesmeyer began to track the movement of the toys. He used a combination of satellite data and beachcombing to map the toys' journey.

Ebbesmeyer's research revealed that the toys had been carried by ocean currents. The currents had carried the toys in a clockwise direction around the North Pacific Ocean. The toys had then traveled south through the Bering Sea and into the North Atlantic Ocean.

Ebbesmeyer's research also showed that the toys had been traveling at an average speed of about 2 miles per hour. This means that the toys had traveled a total of about 10,000 miles since they were lost at sea in 1992.

The bath toys have become a valuable tool for oceanographers. They have helped scientists to learn more about ocean currents and the movement of debris. The toys have also helped to raise awareness of the problem of marine pollution.

The bath toys are a reminder that even the smallest objects can have a big impact on the environment. They are also a reminder of the power of science to help us to understand the world around us.

The Fate of the Bath Toys

The bath toys are still traveling around the world today. They have been found on beaches as far away as Australia and New Zealand. It is estimated that there are still about 10,000 bath toys floating around the ocean.

The bath toys are expected to continue to travel around the world for many years to come. They are a testament to the durability of plastic and the power of ocean currents.

The Legacy of the Bath Toys

The bath toys have had a lasting impact on oceanography. They have helped scientists to learn more about ocean currents and the movement of debris. The toys have also helped to raise awareness of the problem of marine pollution.

The bath toys are a reminder that even the smallest objects can have a big impact on the environment. They are also a reminder of the power of science to help us to understand the world around us.

Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea & of the Beachcombers, Oceanograp hers, Environmentalists & Fools Including the Author Who Went in Search of Them

by Donovan Hohn

4.2 out of 5