<p><strong>Gina Durell (left), Island Durell, and Linda Harrison stand at the edge of thick pools of oil on Pensacola Beach, <a id="no2c" title="Florida" href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/united-states/florida-guide/">Florida</a> (see <a id="h.5." title="map" href="http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/maps/map-machine#s=r&amp;c=30.332462285442336, -87.142344&amp;z=8">map</a>), on Wednesday.</strong></p><p>A popular stretch of sand for beachgoers was closed Thursday after oil washed ashore from the ongoing <a id="ldse" title="Gulf of Mexico oil spill," href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/gulf-oil-spill-news/">Gulf of Mexico oil spill,</a> according to the Associated Press.</p><p>Florida Governor Charlie Crist saw the mats of sticky goo firsthand Thursday, telling the <em>Miami Herald</em>, "It's pretty ugly. There's no question about it."</p><p>(See <a id="wd4_" title="&quot;Gulf Oil Spill Worst in U.S. History.&quot;" href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/05/100527-energy-nation-gulf-oil-spill-top-kill-obama/">"Gulf Oil Spill Worst in U.S. History."</a>)</p><p>Since the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, millions of gallons of crude have gushed into the Gulf. Some of that oil has gotten caught up in a powerful loop current that <a id="jvk2" title="propels the oil toward Florida" href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/05/100518-gulf-mexico-oil-spill-loop-current-science-environment/">propels the oil toward Florida</a>.</p>