Tromsø, December 2012
Humpback whales start their 8 000 km long annual
trek in the autumn, travelling from the Barents Sea to
their mating and nursery areas in the Caribbean. In
2012, large numbers of whales swam far up into the
fjords in Troms and Vesterålen, to the great delight of
whale enthusiasts on land. The whales’ new coastal
migration pattern is related to herring populations,
which during the last two years have spent the dark
days of winter close to shore. The small fish are a
tempting treat for humpback whales, which want to
fatten up before their long journey.
Photo: Audun Rikardsen
