Summertime in Alaska Jul 16, 2020

Summertime in Alaska

Humpback whales are famous for breaching—leaping out of the water in a spectacular display of size and power. Even though they can weigh more than a house and stretch to 50 feet in length, they still manage aquatic acrobatics that are amazing to behold, as the picture on our homepage captures so beautifully. Scientists don"t know why some whales breach but speculate it"s a form of communication or a mating display. Or maybe they"re just having fun.

© Tony Wu/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

Jul 16, 2018Instant romance
Jul 16, 2019Hemingway’s Keys
Jul 16, 2021Whatever floats your boat
Jul 16, 2022American goldfinch
Jul 16, 2023Bear Hole Brook, Catskill Mountains, New York
Jul 16, 2024Festival of British Archaeology
Jul 16, 2025Temple of Philae, Aswan, Egypt

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 10, 2019In praise of the pipes
Apr 16, 2022National Park Week begins
Feb 9, 2025Alstrom Point, Lake Powell, Utah
May 16, 2023American Wetlands Month
May 16, 2020Let s run em up!
Mar 23, 2019What happened to these clouds?
Jul 11, 2021Why, aloe there
Oct 12, 2024World Migratory Bird Day
Nov 30, 2023Saint Andrews Day
Jan 22, 2019Is this Minecraft headquarters?
Jun 2, 2025National Garden Week begins today
Oct 24, 2019Bridge of Hillsborough County
Nov 24, 2023Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
Jan 6, 2025Flooded crypt, Basilica of San Francesco, Ravenna, Italy
Jul 26, 2025International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem
Apr 11, 2023Mossy Grotto Falls, Oregon
Mar 20, 2020Heron lies the Salton Sea
Nov 2, 2018Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
Mar 18, 2024Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
Mar 3, 2021Climb a tree for wild animals and plants
Dec 1, 2022Antarctica Day
Jul 14, 2021A different view of sharks
Feb 8, 2025Medieval towers in Mestia, Upper Svaneti, Georgia
Oct 12, 2025Village of Saranac Lake, New York
Oct 9, 2018A history of Vinland
May 19, 2024Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
Jul 20, 2024International Moon Day
Oct 27, 2019A festival of lights in India
Mar 21, 2024International Day of Forests
Nov 28, 2021Celebrating Panama s independence