California Grey Whale Migration

Do the time and length of your commute leave you a little frustrated? To put things in perspective, head out to the Point Reyes National Seashore mid-to-late March and witness the longest migration of any mammal. California gray whales can swim more than 10,000 miles each year, spending about one-third of their lives migrating from the cold, nutrient-rich waters of Alaska to the warm, shallow lagoons of Baja California. What motivates the whales to tackle this annual journey? None other than food and reproduction. Here are some other notable facts about these spectacular cetaceans:

Marin Magazine, Grey Whale Facts

50 FEET AVERAGE LENGTH

40 TON AVERAGE WEIGHT

70 YEARS AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY

13,000 MILES MIGRATION DISTANCE

20,000 WHALES PASSING POINT REYES

This article originally appeared in Marin Magazine’s print edition under the headline: “Thar She Blows.