The 1917 Halifax Explosion
One hundred and five years ago today the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was rocked by the largest non-nuclear, man-made explosion with the equivalent of 3,000 tons of TNT. More than 325 acres were immediately destroyed from the shockwave emanating from the collision of two ships in the harbor. Approximately 1,900 people lost their lives, while 9,000 were injured. The news spread quickly by telegraph that initiated before the explosion (a great story in and of itself), although all means of communication and transportation into and out of Halifax were disrupted by the blast.
