Migration of Humpback Whales

The leadership of the Whaletrack program, aimed at mapping the migrations of Humpback and Killer Whales, is held by the Arctic University of Norway.

As whales journey thousands of miles from their feeding grounds in the Barents Sea in the Arctic to their winter breeding areas in the Caribbean Sea, their movements are meticulously tracked. The map below provides a visual representation of the pathways taken by different tracked whales.

Here is interactive version of the map.

The migration of Humpback Whales is a remarkable natural spectacle that unfolds across vast expanses of ocean, revealing the incredible navigational abilities of these marine giants. Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are renowned for their long-distance migrations, covering thousands of miles as they travel between feeding and breeding grounds.

The migratory journey typically follows a distinct pattern. During the summer months, Humpback Whales venture to high-latitude, nutrient-rich feeding areas, such as the Barents Sea in the Arctic. Here, they capitalize on the abundance of prey, primarily small fish and krill, to accumulate the necessary energy reserves for the subsequent phases of their life cycle.

As the winter approaches and the availability of food decreases in these colder waters, Humpback Whales embark on their migration to warmer breeding grounds. One of the most well-known migration routes is observed in the North Atlantic population, where individuals traverse significant distances to reach the Caribbean Sea for the breeding season. The tropical waters provide a conducive environment for calving and nursing the newborns.

The migration itself is a complex behavior influenced by a variety of factors, including environmental conditions, reproductive cycles, and the need for suitable feeding and breeding habitats. Humpback Whales are known for their acrobatic displays during migration, breaching and slapping the water's surface with their flippers and tails, possibly as a form of communication or social interaction.

Want to learn more about whales? Then have a look at the following books:

Find cities with similar climate

This map has been created using The Global environmental stratification. The Global environmental stratification (GEnS), based on statistical clustering of bioclimate data (WorldClim). GEnS, consists of 125 strata, which have been aggregated into 18 global environmental zones (labeled A to R) based on the dendrogram. Interactive map >> Via www.vividmaps.com Related posts: - Find cities with similar climate 2050 - How global warming will impact 6000+ cities around the world?

The Appalachian Mountains, the Scottish Highlands, and the Atlas Mounts in Africa were the same mountain range

The Central Pangean Mountains was a prominent mountain ridge in the central part of the supercontinent Pangaea that extends across the continent from northeast to southwest through the Carboniferous , Permian Triassic periods. The mountains were formed due to a collision within the supercontinents Gondwana and Laurussia during the creation of Pangaea. It was comparable to the present Himalayas at its highest peak during the start of the Permian period. It isn’t easy to assume now that once upon a time that the Scottish Highlands, The Appalachian Mountains, the Ouachita Mountain Range, and the Atlas Mountains in northwestern Africa are the same mountains , once connected as the Central Pangean Mountains.

Moose population in North America

The moose population in North America is shrinking swiftly. This decrease has been correlated to the opening of roadways and landscapes into this animal's north range. In North America, the moose range includes almost all of Canada and Alaska, the northern part of New England and New York, the upper Rocky Mountains, northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and Isle Royale. In 2014-2015, the North American moose population was measured at around one million animals. The most abundant moose population (about 700,000) lives in Canada. About 300 000 moose remains in nineteen U.S. states Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The largest moose specimens are found in Alaska 200 thousand moose. Below the map shows the size of US states scaled by the moose population. Via www.vividmaps.com

Ecoclimax

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