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Photo Gallery: Whales
1 of 10NEXT
Photo: Humpback 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
Scientists aren't sure why whales breach. Some say it's to clean off parasites. Others say it's just for fun.
Photograph courtesy NOAA

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Photo: Whale skeleton

Evolution of Whales

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

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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.

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Photo: Orcas

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

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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.

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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.

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