Humpback whales, Maui, Hawaii
© Flip Nicklin/Minden Picture
King of the ocean. Maui Whale Festival
If you ever want to feel insignificant, just think about the sheer size of a humpback whale. With adults growing up to 17 metres, humpback whales are one of the biggest mammals on Earth. In Hawaii, you can get the opportunity to go on a whale watching tour during the Maui Whale Festival and get up close with these giant, beautiful creatures. A species of baleen whale, humpback whales are known for their long elaborate songs, which travel far distances through the waters. Each whale population has its own whale song, and interestingly, it is only the males that sing. Also, did you know that whales are a distant relative of hippos? Both evolved from a common ancestor.
Sea angel
Golden jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake on the island of Eil Malk, Palau
Baby lemon sharks swimming among mangroves near Alice Town, Bimini, Bahamas
Long-beaked common dolphin pod and diving Cape gannets hunting Pacific sardines off the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Florida red-bellied turtle in Rainbow Springs, Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida
Humpback whales and dolphins, Hawaii
Bluespotted ribbontail ray near Perth, Australia
Moon jelly and an aggregation of stingless golden jellyfish in a landlocked marine lake, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia
