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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Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia
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Zion National Park, Utah
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International Museum Day
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Listening to the sea
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Pantaleu
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When Death Valley blew its top
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Happy Mother’s Day
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Beech trees and wild anemones, Jutland, Denmark
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Long-eared owl in the Czech Republic
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1934 Labor Day parade, Gastonia, North Carolina
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World Rivers Day
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White trilliums blooming in Ontario, Canada
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A march toward a dream
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Jan van Eyckplein in Bruges, Belgium
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Explorer of the sea
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Welcome to the Year of the Pig
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Welcome to ‘Hollywood North’
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Earthrise on Moon Day
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A little blue
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Go with the rainbow flow
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Cherry blossoms at the National Mall, Washington, DC
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Blue-footed booby, Galápagos Islands
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Mossy Grotto Falls, Oregon
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Winter at Valley Forge
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National Park Week: Wind Cave National Park
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World Wildlife Day
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The birthplace of Cinco de Mayo
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Mack Arch Rock
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A Christmas market with a long history
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San Blas Islands, Panama