Humpback Whales, Chathan Strait, Southeast Alaska – Image 2424

A humpback whale flips its tail high above the water as it dives, and another whale exhales or blows as it surfaces. Whales are mammals and as a mammal they have to breath air. A humpback whale tail or fluke is about 15 feet from tip to tip or roughly the length of a VW bug. This photo illustrates the month of November in my 2006 Southeast Alaska Calendar and page 79 in my whale book. This photo is available as an art print. Camera: Nikon F5, Lens: 80-400mm f/3.5-5.6 Nikkor, Film:35mm Velvia (35mm color slide film).-Mark Kelley