It's safe to say that the vast majority of humankind relies on electricity for energy. Electric power does have a really big impact on our lives, from turning on the lights that allow us to see in the dark, to communications and transport, just to name just a few. It's hard to imagine a world without electricity, and, when power outages do occur, they indeed have a significant impact on daily life and even the economy.
Blackouts do, however, happen, and many have caused significant damage and distress to entire nations. In this gallery, we revisit some of the most significant blackouts in history. Click on to learn more.