An orca near the Chilkat Mountains, Lynn Canal, Alaska, USA © John Hyde/Alamy

An orca breaks the surface of Lynn Canal against the backdrop of the snow-capped Chilkat Mountains in Southeast Alaska, United States. Also known as the killer whale, the orca is the largest member of the dolphin family and one of the ocean"s most recognisable predators. Alaska"s Inside Passage provides abundant feeding grounds, sustaining salmon runs and a rich variety of marine life that supports these remarkable animals.