Whale watchers love to visit the Oregon coast to spot these gentle giants, and can usually spot whales year-round in the Depoe Bay area. This time of year is a great time to see whales all along the coast as they migrate south, and Whale Watching Week in Oregon is coming up, so you'll definitely want to plan a visit. Let's take a look at this majestic display of nature and find out where the best places for whale watching in Oregon are.
Every year, around 20,000 gray whales migrate from the waters off the Alaska coast down to the warmer climate of Baja, Mexico. During their 6,000-mile journey, they swim right along the Oregon coast.
So, when is Oregon whale watching week? From mid-December to mid-January, it's pretty easy to spot whales along the coast, especially if you have binoculars.
While you'll be able to see the whales for most of the four-week period, during Whale Watch Week, the numbers of whales are at their peak. There's nothing like seeing the largest mammals on earth in their natural habitat soaring out of the water.
To spot whales, watch for their spouts. The whales spout three to five times before heading back into the depths to feed for another five to ten minutes.
Whales have two lungs, each about the size of a refrigerator. When they spout, they're releasing the air from their lungs at about 100 miles per hour. The mist spouts high above the waves, and that's the first sign you'll see.
If the whale is fairly close to shore, you might spot his back as he comes to the surface. If you're really lucky, you might see him breach (come up out of the water), but that's rare.
It's much more common to spot the whale's fluke (or tail) as he dives back down into deeper water.
Depoe Bay is a great place to see whales, and its Visitor Center is staffed with park rangers and volunteers who are happy to provide you with plenty of info about gray whales and other resident wildlife.
During the winter, the center is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but it's also open for Whale Watch Week.
While they're down in the warm waters of Baja, Mexico, female whales give birth to their calves. Then in March, they make the return journey to Alaska.
The volunteer organization Whale Watching Spoken Here has 24 locations along the coast where volunteers will be on hand during Whale Watching Week to educate visitors and help them sight the whales.
Get an aerial view of whales rising to the surface:
Ready to learn more about the 20,000 gray whales that will be traveling along the coast this winter? Oregon State Parks keep the most current info. So get ready to head to the coast and see a true natural wonder. If you want to get up close to these amazing creatures, go on a whale-watching excursion.
Do you have great stories or photos of the whales you've spotted along the Oregon coast? If so, we'd love to see them in the comments!
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