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The Pacific Ocean seems endless except for the silhouette of a mountain range in the backdrop which appears hidden behind the mist and the beauty of a bright rainbow arcing over a Humpback Whale. As the rainbow decorates the backdrop, a Humpback raises his massive flipper before slapping it against the surface of the water in Frederick Sound, Alaska.
The Humpback Whale rolls onto his side and lifts its pectoral flipper which can be up to 1/3 the length of its entire body. Their fins are the longest pectoral fins of all cetaceans and they often lift them well out of the water. Rough edges travel up one side of the flipper while the opposite side is an arc shape similar to that of the rainbow.
Slapping their flippers is often seen when a few Humpback Whales are gathered in social groups and mating is apparent but it is a common behavior while swimming solo. They use these fins to help them swim backwards and stop in an instance, similar to that of a stabilizer or a rudder on a ship. The coloring of the flippers vary, some being completely white while others are only partly white.
The Humpback Whale is often seen swimming along the southeastern coast of Alaska, many which prefer to mull around Frederick Sound. Approximately 6,000 Humpback Whales are found in the North Pacific and about 1,000 feed in Southeast Alaska during the summer with nearly 500 entering Frederick Sound.
Frederick Sound is one of the best areas throughout the world to watch a Humpback Whale in its natural environment. Various types of charters are available to visitors who want to view these massive marine mammals while visiting Alaska, USA.
Alaska, Tongass National Forest, Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaengliae) slapping flippers by rainbow in Frederick Sound
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