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Breaching |
Whale
Watching
in
Alaska
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Tail Slapping |
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Whale watching is fast
becoming one of the most popular activities in Alaska. Most of us
have seen whales on TV, but it is not until you get up close to
one of these huge creatures in their natural habitat that you can
truly appreciate their size and remarkable grace.
To see whales visit Alaska between late May -
early September for Humpback and Minke Whales, Orcas, Pacific
White-Sided Dolphins, Dall's and Harbour Porpoises. June - early
July is best for bubble-netting Humpbacks. August is the prime
month for weather, seas, and whales. Whales can be seen multi-day
cruises on small and large cruise ships, however, the best
opportunities are on day trips from whale-watching boats that are
available from Gustavus, Pt Adolphus, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan,
Juneau, Petersburg, Elfin Cove, Wrangell Island, Sitka. Whales can be witnessed from
all of the waters in Alaska, but the real whale congregating spot
is Southeast Alaska where as many as 5,000 humpback whales (50% - 60% of the
world’s humpback population) migrate each summer. They come to
Alaska to feed, to meet other whales,
and mate. The
30 to 40 ton humpback whales
start arriving in Alaskan waters in April and are seen
until the first part of October. |
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Whale Antics |
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Above water whale
antics include spy hops, breaches, fluking, tail slaps and pec
slaps. |
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The Best Whale Watching Locations |
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Frederick
Sound, south of Admiralty Island and just a few hours from Juneau and
Petersburg is humpback whale heaven. Humpback whales congregate here to
feed on massive schools of fish and krill. With some luck, you may see
these endangered giants as they use bubble nets to execute their
cooperative feeding attacks.
Prince
William Sound and Kenai Fjords National Park also offer prime whale
watching opportunities and are accessible by small whale watching boats. |
Southeast Alaska's "Inside Passage" Area |
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How to Spot a Whale |
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The
humpback whales are hard to miss. Fully grown females - which are
bulkier than the males - can weigh 45 tons and reach 60 feet.
Their 15-foot flippers, the longest of any whale, have earned the
humpback species the name Megaptera or "great-winged." The term humpback
comes from the hump on the forward part of the dorsal fin and the
way the back flexes upward before they dive.
Orca's (Killer
Whales) are often seen in the many channels, inlets and bays of the Inside
Passage area of Southeast Alaska.
How
do you spot a whale? Scan the horizon watching for a cloud
of "smoke" that rises 10-20 feet above the the ocean. Be
patent and watch the general area of the "smoke" for a few
minutes. Whales need to breath every seven to fifteen
minutes and the "smoke" is water vapor exhaled from their blow
hole. |
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We can arrange special whale watching packages for your next
Alaska vacation. Call and discuss your Alaska vacation plans
with one of our Alaska specialists and we will customize your
Alaska vacation to maximize your whale watching experience. |
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For more information
regarding
Whale Viewing
click here
or call:
888-626-0523 (Pacific time) |
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