Wintertime brings large numbers of humpback whales to the icy waters off the Norwegian coast, where they feed on herring and krill—and delight whale watchers with powerful leaps, tail-slaps, and glimpses into their underwater world. Male humpbacks are famous for their haunting songs, which can last up to 20 minutes and be heard over great distances underwater. Scientists aren"t sure why exactly the males sing these ballads, but some theorize it"s related to courtship. That sounds romantic enough, but ladies take note—the humpback isn"t one to settle down. It"s a migratory animal that swims up to 16,000 miles a year, traveling from southern breeding grounds to Arctic waters like these.
Whales in winter
Today in History
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Tintern Abbey, Wales
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Yosemite National Park turns 132
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Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and the Louvre Pyramid
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A horse of many colors
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Dubrovnik, Croatia
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Greece celebrates its independence
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Lantern Festival
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Celebrating a Paris landmark
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The Tour de France begins
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National Mushroom Month
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Rooftops in the walled city of Urbino, Italy
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High seas commerce
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Berlin Festival of Lights
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International Nurses Day
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Rocky mountain pi
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Santo Antão Island in the Republic of Cabo Verde
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Celebrating the UN’s International Day of Families
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Eurasian scops owl
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First Cliff Walk
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Womens History Month
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Bowling Ball Beach in Mendocino County, California
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A. M. Foster Bridge in Cabot, Vermont
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Wild lupines
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Sea Otter Awareness Week
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Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand
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A wild, craggy corner of the United States
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Reflecting on fall
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Working for that cliffside view
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Ambassadors of the airwaves
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Hello, spring!