The blue whale is the largest animal ever to exist on Earth, surpassing even the enormous dinosaurs. Seeing this oceanic giant that has inhabited the world's oceans for millions of years is indeed a powerful experience. During our summer expeditions in Svalbard, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of this majestic creature.
The blue whale can grow up to 30 meters long and weigh 200 tonnes. The fact that it can grow so large is largely due to the supporting power of the water. On land, such a large animal would need such strong bones that it would have difficulty moving.
A female blue whale is pregnant for 11-12 months. Already at birth, the baby blue whale is a giant with a length of more than 7 meters and a weight of 2-3 tonnes. It receives milk from its mother and drinks up to 380 liters per day, allowing it to grow up to 90 kilos per day.
Although the blue whale is the largest animal on Earth, its diet consists solely of small crustaceans - krill, which it consumes in large quantities. It dives down to a depth of 100 metres to collect krill during the day and stays close to the surface at night. The blue whale is a baleen whale, which means it has a baleen instead of teeth. It is a comb-like organ used to filter the krill from the water. When it feeds, it takes in up to 110 tonnes of water to filter its food.
The blue whale can live to be 80-90 years old. They usually swim alone but sometimes they can also swim in pairs or small groups. In Svalbard, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the mighty blue whale, which often heads to Isfjorden in the summer in search of food.
Sources: WWF, Illustrated Science.
Please note: We always follow current guidelines in the Arctic to ensure that we do not disturb wildlife.
Please note: Depending on the lens used for a photo or video shot an animal may appear to be closer than it is. We always follow strict wildlife guidelines to ensure that we do not cause any disturbance.