WHALE WATCHING...
Stunning Mating Ritual
Performed by Gigantic Ballerinas
Hampback Whale - © Secretariat of Tourism Buenos Aires
Whale watching is perhaps the most beautiful way of interacting with nature and wildlife at the same time.
South America - particularly Argentina, Ecuador and Brazil - receives this annual migratory mass every year between May and December, the breeding season.
To witness this majestic ritual is truly a once-in-a-lifetime-experience.
Whales are one of the most beautiful, noble and impressive animals on earth.
They are very non-aggressive, don't have natural fear of humankind.
Natural born actors and performers, they execute an aquatic ballet to the delight of their admirers, cutting through the waves with the skillfulness and eloquence of a ballerina.
One cant' help but to admire and love them when they produce spectacular jumps, lifting their enormous bodies out of the water and displacing thousands of gallons of water at the same time.
WHALE WATCHING IN ARGENTINA:
Valdez Peninsula, Patagonia, Argentina, is without doubt one of the best places on Earth to watch whales.
It is the primary mating ground for the Southern Right whale.
The city of Puerto Madryn, Rawson and the village of Puerto Piramides constitute the entrance to the extraordinary world of the southern whales.
Valdez Peninsula host the largest breeding population of the species, particularly at Golfo Nuevo (Nuevo Gulf).
Only authorized tourist agencies crafts are allowed to navigate Golfo Nuevo during the mating and breeding period.
There are four Right whale species...
- North Atlantic Right Whal
- North Pacific Right Whale
- Southern Right Whale (Southern Hemisphere)
- Bowhead Right Whale (Artic Ocean)
Unfortunately, they were almost hunted to extinction in the past.
As a mother of fact, the name Right comes from the fact that they are...
- very large (thus rich in oil and blubber)
- slow moving
- come close inshore
- because of the oil the floated when killed
Valdez Peninsula: White Tail - © Secretariat of Tourism Buenos Aires
Southern Right whales have huge callosities (growths) on their head, which makes them easy to identify.
At Valdez Peninsula there are several recurrent visitors that even have names and are greeted as old friends when they show up every year.
They have broad backs with no fin, a large head with an arched mouthpiece and large broad flippers.
their skin is black-brown and they have white patches under their bellies.
Have two blow holes and when they blow it is wide and V-shaped and up to five meters high.
Adults females measure between 13 and 16 meters of length and weight between 30 and 40 tons.
This species have offspring every three years. At birth, they are between 4.6 and 5.5 meters long and weight about 3 tons.
WHALE WATCHING IN ECUADOR:
Every year, from June to October, the Humpback Whale comes from the Antarctic - natural habitat for the most part of the year - to the shores of Ecuador, to find a mate and reproduce in warm waters.
The Humpback whale is an enormous creature that can reach up to 60 feet and weight up to 40 tons.
Its name was given for the manner in which its curved back arches above the water as it surfaces.
It is known for its love of communication and harmonious sounds. The male sings in an attempt to find a female.
In fact, the Humpback whale produces the longest and most complex song in the animal kingdom, lasting up to an hour at times.
Would you like to listen to it?...
The best places for whale watching in Ecuador include...
- Bahia de Caraquez (Prov. of Manabi)
- Manta (Idem)
- La Isla de la Plata (Idem)
- Puerto Lopez (Idem)
- Machalila National Park (Idem)
- Salinas (Prov. of Guayas)
- Mampiche (Prov. of Esmeraldas)
Let's watch this amazing ritual performed in the shores of Ecuador...(narrated in Spanish)
WHALE WATCHING IN ANTARCTICA:
The best time for whale watching in Antarctica is at the end of the season: January to February.
You will have the opportunity to observe...
- minke whales
- sei whales
- fin whales
- humpback whales
- southern bottlenose whales
- killer whales
WHALE WATCHING IN BRAZIL:
In Brazil instead, you can admire the Southern Right whale from the beautiful beaches of Santa Rosa, in Florianopolis.
Inbituba, in Santa Catarina, has been recognized as the National Right Whale Capital and holds a Right Whale Week celebration in September, when mothers and calves are more often seen.
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