Humpback whale
© Philip Thurston/Getty Image
Where the humpback whale sings. World Oceans Day
Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface, so it's no surprise they play a crucial role in our planet's climate and ecosystem. These gargantuan seas support a vast ecosystem of marine life, including the beautiful humpback whale. The humpback whale once was known for its 'singing', which research attributed to possibly being a sign of loneliness. The good news is that as the whale population has risen with the end of commercial whaling, there is less need for whales to sing a song of loneliness.
While whales may no longer be lonely, their aquatic environment is still at risk from climate change and human actions. It is only right that today, on World Oceans Day, we contemplate the importance of these beautiful resources and how our actions can have a negative impact on them.
Blue shark near the Azores in the North Atlantic Ocean
Sperm whale mother and albino baby swimming off the coast of Portugal
Manatees in the Ichetucknee River in Florida, USA.
Dr. Sylvia Earle explores the Great Barrier Reef in a scene from 'Mission Blue'
Emperor penguins in the Ross Sea, Antarctica
Oyster farm offshore from Notojima Island, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
A fin whale in the waters off the Azores
Divers at El Pit Cenote, located in Dos Ojos Natural Park, Quintana Roo, Mexico
