Misfortunate Monday; The Great Smog of London

     Hello everybody and welcome back to another wonderful addition to Nations Made Fun! I'll be your host, Mr. Nations, your tour guide to this massive world we all call home! Today on Misfortunate Monday we'll be taking a look at the Great Smog of London, a horrible smog that polluted London for many days. Let's get into it!

     The Great Smog of London was a thick smog that covered London for a total of five days, from December 5th to December 9th. It was a turning point in English history because it spawned the Clean Air Act four years after the event. 

     The smog was a combination of smoke and fog and was lethal to one's health. It nearly brought London to a standstill and resulted in the death of thousands. There were attempts to restrict the burning of coal in London, but with the rapidly expanding city, the need for coal burning grew. 

     The smog was so thick because coal particles would stick to the condensation (fog) in the air and the resulting clouds became thick and heavy. They impaired visibility and made it hard to do many vital activities outdoors. 

     Fun Facts:

• Indoor plays and concerts were canceled because many people couldn't even see the stage. 
• Transportation was severely restricted and caused ambulance services to struggle and force people to find their own way to the hospital. 
• People left their cars in the middle of the road because of the transportation restrictions, making it even harder for ambulances to fin their way to patients.

     Picture of Big Ben through the thick smog:

     

     Sources: https://www.britannica.com/event/Great-Smog-of-London