World Whale Day Feb 20, 2022

As surely as some tourists return to Hawaii each and every year, thousands of humpback whale families, like the one seen in this photo, make an annual winter visit to the waters off Maui. They"re the reason behind today"s cetacean celebration: World Whale Day. While the observance honors whales of all kinds in all the world"s oceans, it was here in Maui that the Pacific Whale Foundation first held the event and timed it to match the yearly return of the humpbacks.

© drewsulockcreations/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Feb 20, 2018Buddha in the roots of a tree, Ayutthaya, Thailand
Feb 20, 2019An unlikely friendship in the wild
Feb 20, 2020Après-ski in the Dolomites
Feb 20, 2021An enduring vision
Feb 20, 2023Presidents Day
Feb 20, 2024Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, England
Feb 20, 2025Ansel Adams birthday
Feb 20, 2026Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul 16, 2023Bear Hole Brook, Catskill Mountains, New York
Feb 10, 2022The Old City of Bern
Jun 14, 2020Celebrating Flag Day
Sep 15, 2024National Hispanic Heritage Month
Jan 1, 2022New Year s Day
May 24, 2024European Day of Parks
Jan 14, 2023Feast of the Donkey
Jun 7, 2025National Trails Day
Dec 22, 2018Night of the ‘Cold Moon’
Jun 1, 2019Hiking the High Trestle Trail
Sep 1, 2019Bidding summer adieu
Mar 9, 2021Spring comes to the Diablo foothills
Apr 24, 2021A garden of prickly delights
Aug 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Oct 2, 2023World Architecture Day
Mar 22, 2021Honoring some real heroes of World War II
Jul 6, 2023International Kissing Day
Mar 19, 2021Life carries on, rising from a ship s skeleton
Apr 21, 2023Procida, Italy
Feb 25, 2023Bryce Canyon National Park turns 100
May 27, 2019Reflections on Memorial Day
Mar 28, 2023The Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Italy
Jul 5, 2018Does it swim in slow motion too?
Jul 5, 2019Peel Castle on St. Patrick’s Isle with the Isle of Man in the background
Dec 20, 2020Dressed for winter fun
Jul 3, 2023The dog days of summer
Aug 11, 2025Village of Santa Maddalena, Dolomites, Italy
Aug 21, 2020Lobster tales
Oct 19, 2020A cliff-hanging complex of temples
Jun 17, 2026Tremola Road on the Saint Gotthard Pass in Airolo, Switzerland