[CINC] Blue whale skeleton

[Catherine French]

I have received many thanks for sending out the Paul Collins info, nice to have a consice look at the basic facts about blues. So nice of Paul to share.

There is a cool web site I use (one among many) that seems to be on top of their facts. Hal Altman had done a calucalation based on the fact sheet from Paul as to the speed a blue whale can swim. It is most likely a reflection of an average day of swimming for feeding or maybe even migrating to conserve energy as he MPH was less than 4 miles an hour.

Here is what EnchantedLearning.com has to say. Go to their web page for additional fun facts.


EnchantedLearning.com
 
SPEED
Blue whales are very fast swimmers; they normally swim 3-20 mph (4.8-32 kph), but can go up to 24-30 mph (38-48 kph) in bursts when in danger. Feeding speeds are slower, about 1-4 mph (1.6-6.2 kph).
 
DIVING
Blue whales can dive for up to an hour, going to a depth of 350 feet (105 m).



Calm Seas,
 
Catherine French
Writer, mentor, naturalist
805.570.0432
To own is to have; to share with friends, is to enjoy.

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