Humpback Whales
Humpback whales travel from Hawaii to Alaska every spring. They come here to eat. If you've ever heard a record of a whale "singing", then you've heard what a humpback sounds like. Humpbacks
are very large. They're over 45 feet long and weigh 25 to 30 tons. They sometimes feed by blowing bubbles out and making a bubble "net" that traps their feed. They also rise to the surface
with their jaw open to catch krill - small floating crustaceans. If you're on a sightseeing trip and see a giant whale's tail disappearing under the water, you've probably just seen a humpback
whale.
Gray Whales & Bowheads
Both of these whales are found in Alaska. They both spend most of their time here in the northern seas. The bowhead lives up north year-round, while the gray whale migrates from the Bering Sea
in the summer to Mexico in the winter.
Belugas
Belugas are a small white whale that travel in groups. They have a bulbous head. A lot of belugas live way up north, in the Bering Sea. But you're most likely to see a Beluga Whale while traveling
down Turnagain Arm, south of Anchorage or from the
city of Kenai. Although Belugas are actual whales, they're sometimes called "white porpoises". They travel around in pods.
Dall Porpoises
You may well see black-and-white dall porpoises running alongside your boat out in Prince William Sound, accessible by Valdez, Cordova or Whittier.
They're very fast -- and black, with a white belly. The coloring is similar to an orca, but they're smaller - and don't have the very large dorsal fin of an orca whale. They can travel up to 50
mph.
Photo, Lu-Lu Belle Cruises & Tours

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