Nature has so much beauty to offer those who take the time to look. The news constantly reports problems with the climate and animal species, and as real as those problems are, many opportunities to experience natural wonders still exist. Whale watching tours allow people the chance to view magnificent creatures up close in their natural habitat.
Whales
The different species include the largest mammal in the world, the blue whale, which can be up to 94 feet long and eat four tons of food a day. Whales are warm-blooded, breathe into lungs, and nurse their young with mammary glands. They are also one of two mammal species who spend their entire existence in the water.
Their size and behavior make them fascinating to watch. They will sometimes "breach," meaning they will leap high into the air and come down hard, slapping their tails on the surface. Sometimes they will even add a twist to their breaching, making them the acrobats of the sea.
They also will "skyhop," a maneuver where they stick their heads out of the water and turn around, as if they are scouting the sea. "Lobtailing" means the whale sticks only his tail out of the water and smacks it on the surface, perhaps to warn his pod, or group, that danger is near.
Locations
Excellent places to see humpback whales are near Washington State, California, Hawaii, and British Columbia. Orca can be found in the area around the San Juan Islands in Reykjavik, Iceland. Blue whale watching is best off the Canadian Atlantic coast, and pilot whales live in the Azores.
Tour Guides
When planning a tour, tourists should hunt for a tour guide who respects the whales and their habitat. No reputable whale watching tour will put either whales or customers at risk. The operators of these tours avoid being intrusive while getting as close to the whales as is safe and legally allowed.
Whale Watching
Anyone whale watching, whether in a tour boat or a private one, needs to do the following to keep all species safe and happy:
- Keep at least 100 yards away from humpback whales, even if they approach the boat. The safe distance may be farther for different whale species.
- Slow down. A great number of whales have died in recent years because they were hit by boats.
- Limit the time they watch. If the whales become agitated by the attention, boaters should move on.
Whale watching tours allow tourists and locals the chance to observe the behavior of these beautiful creatures in their normal surroundings. These mammals are huge, sleek, and mostly friendly creatures whose lives are a joy to observe. If you'd like to have a whale watching experience yourself, contact a local tour company like Orca Enterprises LLC.
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