Subscribe Now! National Geographic Magazine $15
Home
Animals
Daily News
Environment
Green Guide
History
Kids
Maps
Music
Photography
Science & Space
Travel & Cultures
Video
National Geographic Magazine
National Geographic Channel
Magazines
Shop
Subscriptions
TV & Film
Travel With Us
Our Mission
Visit our Online Shops
Books & Atlases
Clothing & Accessories
DVDs
Maps
Catalog Quick Shop

Sign up for free

Newsletters

Once a month
get new photos
and expert tips.

Sign up

Photo Gallery: Whales
PREVIOUS2 of 10NEXT
Photo: A northern right whale breaching
Photo: Humpback whale breachingPhoto: A northern right whale breachingPhoto: Sunlight reflected through water ripples illuminates a sperm whalePhoto: Killer whale breachingPhoto: A gray whale cruises the glassy waters of Grice BayPhoto: Humpback whales in the singing positionPhoto: A northern right whale near the water's surfacePhoto: Beluga whale swimmingPhoto: Gray whale pokes its head above waterPhoto: Underwater view of a blue whale
ENLARGEWALLPAPER
Northern right whales, hunted to near extinction, are the rarest of all large whales. Experts estimate that only several hundred exist in the wild.
Photograph courtesy NOAA

More Sea Animals Galleries
Photo: Hawaiian monk seal rests on the sand

Photo Gallery: Seals and Sea Lions

Photo: Hawksbill sea turtle

Photo Gallery: Sea Turtles

Photo: A lounging walrus

Photo Gallery: Walruses

Photo: Sun rays light the path of a great white shark

Photo Gallery: Sharks

Whale Features
Photo: Whale skeleton

Evolution of Whales

A new fossil find sheds light on how whales evolved. Find out more in this feature.

Learn More
Photo: Sperm whale

Photo of the Day: Chasing Tails

Go to New Zealand's South Island where a whale-watching tour group caught a sperm whale with its tail in the air, heading down into Kaikoura Canyon to hunt for food.

View Photos
Photo: Orcas

Investigating a Killer

Find out why the beloved orca is neither a ruthless killer nor a whale in this feature.

Learn More
Photo: Humpback whale

Photo of the Day: Tall Tail

See how whales' tails are used for more than just propulsion in this photo from the waters of Hawaii.

View Photos
Photo: Killer whales

Kids: Killer Whale Creature Feature

Get fun facts on orcas, plus video, audio, photos, and more at National Geographic's Kids site.

Explore Kids

Special Advertising Sections
Phot: Girl drinking bottled water

Interactive Map

Explore the signs of and solutions to the world’s water crisis.

Photo: The Cloud Gate in Chicago

Download City Guides

Check out the local hotspots with downloadable city guides.

Mammals Right Rail

Get the Latest Headlines
Photo: Grizzly bears

Make us your online news source.

Read News

Get Animal Pictures

Photo: Lion yawning

Get your daily dose of photos.

See Photos

For Kids!
Photo: A cartoon dog

It's no stretch to find fun facts on our Kids site!

Fun and Games

Shop National Geographic DVDs

Whatever your interest, you'll be entertained and educated with our collection of best-selling DVDs.

Shop Now