Walruses in Svalbard, Norway Sep 30, 2024

Walruses in Svalbard, Norway

What"s the perfect thing to do under the midnight sun? If you"re a walrus, the answer might be taking a quick dip with your crew, chowing down on clams and mussels, and then sunbathing on a beach or ice floe. Welcome to Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean halfway between Norway and the North Pole. Our homepage stars were photographed in the waters off Spitsbergen, the largest of the archipelago"s nine islands, where male and female herds are found year-round. Male walruses can reach almost 12 feet long and weigh more than 2,600 pounds. During mating season, they use this girth to fight among themselves for dominance over groups of females, called harems.

© AWL Images/Danita Delimont

palette

Today in History

Sep 30, 2018Aw shucks, it’s oyster season in Galway
Sep 30, 2019Wheels up in Beijing
Sep 30, 2020All eyes on moths
Sep 30, 2021Global commerce in motion
Sep 30, 2022Southern right whale
Sep 30, 2023Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Sep 30, 2025Koala in the Great Otway National Park, Australia

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 26, 2020 The Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic
Feb 10, 2020This park is Superkilen
Apr 16, 2022National Park Week begins
Jul 28, 2024Bathing huts in Skåne County, Sweden
May 30, 2019A day to celebrate the sun
May 1, 2022AAPI Heritage Month & Lei Day
Jun 27, 2018In search of roadside attractions on ‘America’s Highway’
Dec 16, 2023Guild houses of Grand-Place, Brussels, Belgium
Aug 26, 2019Classical music takes center stage
Jul 16, 2024Festival of British Archaeology
Jul 6, 2018Pandas pucker up for International Kissing Day
Jan 17, 2023Muniellos Nature Reserve
Dec 31, 2023Happy New Years Eve!
May 4, 2021Happy Star Wars Day!
Sep 12, 2023North Sea at sunset, Norddorf, Germany
Apr 22, 2023Earth Day and National Park Week
Oct 27, 2018Don’t get lost in there
Sep 17, 2024Mid-Autumn Festival
Sep 19, 2020Arrr, it be Talk Like a Pirate Day
Sep 18, 2021Hanging out on a limb
Jun 22, 2019Reflections on the mighty Amazon
Jul 1, 2020Canada s $20 view
Dec 24, 2024Silent night, sparkling lights, and hearts full of joy
Nov 21, 2019Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!
Nov 13, 2018Autumn’s swan song
Sep 15, 2022Hispanic Heritage Month
Mar 14, 2025Celebrating Pi Day
Jun 14, 2024Flag Day
Jul 12, 2020A day to take a moment
Jan 23, 2018Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Brazil