Imagine a cetacean up to 18 meters long swimming through the waters of the Magellan Strait, moving its impressive 5-meter-long pectoral fins while performing acrobatic jumps that break the surface of the water. This spectacle is just one of the wonders that humpback whales offer in their natural habitat, an experience that transforms and deeply connects you with nature.
In our expeditions Pumas, Penguins and Whales and Humpback Whales of the Strait of Magellan, you can witness of this unique encounter with the ocean giants.
Amazing Features of Humpback Whales
The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species from the Cetacea order, belonging to the Balaenopteridae family, known for its impressive size, acrobatic behavior, and unique adaptations.
Females can reach up to 18 meters in length, while males are slightly smaller. Their robust bodies feature protuberances on their heads and the edges of their pectoral fins, which are often inhabited by epibionts such as barnacles and cyamids, known as “whale lice.” Instead of teeth, these whales have keratin baleen used for filtering their food.
A distinctive feature is their tail fluke, whose shape, size, coloration, and scars are unique to each individual. These variations allow researchers to identify them using a method called photo-identification, which is essential for monitoring their populations and studying their behavior.
Their aerial behavior is another major attraction. Humpback whales often leap out of the water, raise their heads to observe the surface, and repeatedly slap the water with their fins or tails, captivating those lucky enough to see them.
A Historical Legacy in the Waters of the Magellan Strait
The relationship between humpback whales and the Magellan Strait has deep historical roots. It was navigator Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa who first documented the presence of these marine giants during his expeditions in 1579 and 1580. Over the centuries, other naturalists and navigators continued to observe humpback whales, but it was not until the 20th century that their relationship with the strait turned tragic due to commercial whaling.
This period of intensive hunting brought humpback whales to the brink of extinction. In 1982, Chile made a key decision to protect marine life by joining the ban on commercial whaling promoted by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), a measure that remains in force in Chilean waters to this day.
However, towards the end of the 20th century, an important turn of events occurred. In 1997 and 1998, a group of researchers documented 38 sightings of humpback whales in the Patagonian fjords and channels. These sightings confirmed the presence of whales in the region and highlighted the area around Carlos III Island as an important feeding area for humpback whales during the summer season.
Francisco Coloane Marine Park: A Refuge of Biodiversity
The Magellan Strait, with its 560 kilometers in length and a width ranging from 4 to 27 kilometers, is not only a strategic passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It is also a unique ecosystem and a refuge for marine biodiversity.
The Francisco Coloane Marine Park is located in the waters of the Strait of Magellan, a protected area surrounding Carlos III Island. Here, oceanic and continental waters mix, enriched by the currents of the Atlantic and Pacific, especially the Cape Horn Current and contributions from glaciers like Santa Inés, as well as nutrient-rich waters from Otway Sound, which enter through the Jerónimo Channel.
These features make the Magellan Strait a highly productive biological zone, capable of hosting an exceptional marine diversity, from small crustaceans to large marine mammals like whales and dolphins.
Site Fidelity and Migration
The humpback whale is a cosmopolitan and highly migratory species, distributed across all of the planet’s oceans and an iconic visitor to the Francisco Coloane Marine Park. Every summer and fall, these majestic creatures travel over 8,000 kilometers from the tropical waters of Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador, where they breed and give birth to their calves, to the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Magellan Strait.
During their stay in these feeding areas, they consume large amounts of krill, sardines, and shrimp, accumulating fat reserves essential for surviving the migration and reproduction months when they do not feed.
One of the most fascinating features of this species is their fidelity to feeding and breeding sites, returning year after year to the same areas. More than 200 individuals have been identified in the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, and many of them have been visiting the same place for over 20 years to feed!
Beyond the Whales: A Journey Full of Life
In addition, on our humpback whale watching expeditions: Pumas Penguins and Whales and Humpback Whales of the Strait of Magellan you can spot colonies of sea lions, Magellanic penguins, imperial cormorants, peale’s dolphin, and a wide variety of seabirds. This journey is an inspiring experience, where the biodiversity of the strait will leave you in awe.
Come discover the fascinating world of whales and more with us!
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