Cape Cod – Whale Watching
If you are under the impression that you could easily spot a whale that is
70 feet in length and weighs almost 65 tons, then you are mistaken. If your
luck is not good, it may take hours to spot a whale. God forbid, if the whale
decides to take a long dip it could vanish under water for an hour before you
could spot it again. However, whale watching near Cape Cod would always ensure
that you get to watch a few whales without fail, particularly in winter.
Did you know that whales have the largest brains in the world? Not a big deal
perhaps, when the cetaceans have the distinction of being the largest mammals.
However, how about these – females and infant whales live in social groups,
the older female whales take care of the calves and the male whales are almost
three times larger in size than the female whales. A whale watching tour guide
in Cape Cod would tell you that the noise made by whales could be heard up to
a distance of five miles. More such interesting information about whales would
leave you wondering is there a connection between them and us!
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Of all the adventures related to the seas, whale watching is the most unique
one. The uniqueness of whale watching is that it’s a non-consumptive use
of whales that has larger economic, recreational, educational and scientific
dimensions. There is another factor that sets whale watching apart form other
sea adventures. Deep sea diving, surfing and snorkeling doesn’t require
the seawater to be much special. These adventures can be pursued almost on any
sea. However, not whale watching. Nature decides where you can watch whales.
The prime reason tourists head for Cape Cod during winter is – to watch
the whales that come to feed. ‘Shrimp like’ Krill is the favorite
food of the Whales that breed in abundance in the Cape Cod Bay. Plankton, the
food of whales that becomes accessible near the shorelines of Cape Cod because
of the shallowness of water, attracts whales. This in turn attracts people to
Cape Cod. A trip to Cape Cod therefore essentially remains incomplete if whale
watching is not included. It’s akin to going to a pub that’s famous
for cocktails and return with having only lemonade.
All the whale watching cruises head for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
The sanctuary covers an area of 600 nautical miles, off the coast of Cape Cod.
On a whale-watching trip in Cape Cod Bay, you may get to see Humpback, Finback,
Minke, Right and Pilot Whales. Cruises start from Plymouth, Barnstable and Provincetown.
Cruise rides may take four hrs to whole day depending from the starting harbor.
Learned and professional marines biologists inform and educate the tourists
about whales. The whales “breaching – leaping straight out of water”,
“spyhopping – raising only their heads above the water as if to
spy on something” and “sounding – executing a dive”
are delightful scenes to watch.
The most valuable thing about whale watching is its potential to educate people
about the need to protect the marine Eco system. Whale watching connects human
beings to the marine mammals and prods them to understand and appreciate their
need to be protected against extinction.
What can be more enjoyable and memorable then watching a whale spouting water
through its nostrils and swimming past you, 100meters away from your Mississippi
style paddlewheeler in the Cape Cod Bay? You may also end up being parents to
a whale by adopting it for as little as $17 while Whale watching in Cape Cod.
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