Whale Watch Solar Power Energy Generation Guide
Whale Watch Spots Around The World
By Genevieve Thomson
One of the things on many people’s "bucket list"
is to whale watch and see some of these gentle, magnificent
creatures in their natural habitats. It’s hard to really
picture the sheer magnitude of their size or grasp the
dynamics of the pod from video documentaries. Some things
in life you just have to experience for yourself.
While there are many places around the world to visit
during whale watching season, you have to be careful
that you’re not choosing an exploitative enterprise
that will take you on a "whale chase," more
than a watch.
It’s best to stay at least 300 feet from the pod and
view from binoculars or let them come to you; but many
operators, in their rush to provide the biggest thrill,
take tourists on a sea-sickening journey that will threaten
the psyche of the whales, not to mention the contents
of your stomach!
A Great Setting For Watching Whales In Europe
Azores, an isolated Portuguese-owned island chain in
the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the best
places to whale watch in Europe. Situated 950 miles
from Lisbon, the Azores Archipelago survives autonomously
from cattle farming, fishing and tourism.
Many travelers love the nine major islands and eight
smaller volcanic islands because it remains one of the
few unspoiled paradises on the planet. With massive
craters, towering mountains and bountiful wildflowers,
this idyllic paradise makes a great setting.
Over the summer, you can see sperm whales and short-finned
pilot whales, although the best time is February to
June, when you can see humpback, fin, killer, sei and
blue whales, as well as several types of dolphins. The
winter months (November through January) offer little
opportunity to see anything, so be sure to plan
accordingly.
Sperm Whales Living Year Round In Dominica
Dominica, one of the Caribbean islands, is known for
its vibrant coral reefs, underwater hot springs, stunning
marine life. Tourists traveling to Christopher Columbus’s
paradise in the Lesser Antilles will enjoy rainforest
nature hikes and viewing some of the rarest plants,
animals and birds in the world. Dominica is said to
be the only country in the world where sperm whales
live year-round.
From time to time there are whale watch opportunities,
and you’ll see migrations, feeding and breeding activity
of pygmy sperm whales and dwarf sperm whales, as well
as Bryde’s, killer and humpback whales, Risso’s dolphins,
spinner dolphins, common dolphins, Atlantic spotted
dolphins and giant sea turtles.
While travelers are likely to review their options
and spot something all year round, November to April
offer the most diverse sightings and the winter months
feature the most acrobatics as the resident humpback
and sperm whales mate.
Whales, Dolphins And Penguins On The Southern Tip Of Africa
No mention of the top whale watch spots would be complete
without mentioning the southern tip of Africa. Hermanus
and Cape Town offer some of the best land-viewing opportunities
for the southern right, killer, Bryde and humpback whale
varieties, as well as dusky and bottlenose dolphins
and African penguins.
In Hermanus, you’ll want to visit Walker Bay from May
to October. In Cape Town, you’re best off visiting False
Bay from mid-August to mid-October. You can have a magical
view driving down the Muizenberg above St. James and
Kalk Bay or taking the coastal road from Simon’s Town
to Cape Point.
About the Author:
Genevieve Thomson has written a number of articles on
Our Living Planet, Solar Power and Renewable Energy including
Endangered Animals,
Save The Earth,
Water Conservation,
Whale Watching Trips,
Solar Power System,
Solar Thermal Systems,
Alternative Power Systems,
Hybrid Car,
Recycling Programs.
Look out for new articles as they become available on this site.
Little Known Whale Watching Cruise Facts.....
Where should I go to take a whale watching cruise?
The ocean is gigantic. You already
know this so you can see whales practically anywhere.
But there are some areas where whales are more prolific.
Where you should take your whale watching cruise really
all depends on the climate you want to be in and what
type of whales you want to see.
Some whales prefer colder waters
so you need to find cruises that are in colder climates.
Baja whales, on the other hand, are common seen in the
warmer Pacific waters off of Mexico and
California.
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