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Blue Whale Collection

The majestic blue whale, the largest creature to ever roam the Earth, gracefully emerges from the depths of the ocean

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving beneath ocean surface. Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka

Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving beneath ocean surface. Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Illustration of Minke Whale (Balaenoptera) using blowhole on surface of water

Illustration of Minke Whale (Balaenoptera) using blowhole on surface of water

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue Whale - Near surface Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Blue Whale - Near surface Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico
FG-eb-913 Blue Whale - near surface Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico Balaenoptera musculus Francois Gohier Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California

Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico, Eastern Pacific Ocean

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) subspecies of blue whale, diving downwards

Pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) subspecies of blue whale, diving downwards, Mirissa, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean. Endangered species

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis (endangered) and blue whale or fin whale

North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis (endangered) and blue whale or fin whale
FLO4654974 North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis (endangered) and blue whale or fin whale. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by David after an illustration by Jean-Gabriel Pretre

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Cutting up a blue whale, between c1900 and c1930. Creator: Unknown

Cutting up a blue whale, between c1900 and c1930. Creator: Unknown
Cutting up a blue whale, between c1900 and c1930

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: RF - Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving vertically down into the ocean to feed

RF - Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving vertically down into the ocean to feed. Indian Ocean, off Sri Lanka. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) swims beneath the surface of the ocean. Indian Ocean

Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) swims beneath the surface of the ocean. Indian Ocean, off Sri Lanka

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) surfacing, aerial shot, Baja California

Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) surfacing, aerial shot, Baja California, Mexico

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving beneath the surface. Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka

Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving beneath the surface. Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Tail of Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda). This may be the pygmy sub-species

Tail of Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda). This may be the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus. Mirissa, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) swimming, Indian Ocean, off Sri Lanka. March

Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) swimming, Indian Ocean, off Sri Lanka. March

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) swimming ins motion, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean

Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) swimming ins motion, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Interior of the CCK Kirchner Cultural Centre (Spanish: Centro Cultural Kirchner), Buenos Aires

Interior of the CCK Kirchner Cultural Centre (Spanish: Centro Cultural Kirchner), Buenos Aires, Argentina

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Tail fluke of Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving. Azores, Atlantic Ocean

Tail fluke of Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) diving. Azores, Atlantic Ocean

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue Whale (coloured engraving)

Blue Whale (coloured engraving)
1000570 Blue Whale (coloured engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustrator:Johann Eberhard Ihle Engraver)

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Whales and dolphins (coloured engraving)

Whales and dolphins (coloured engraving)
997765 Whales and dolphins (coloured engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: From A Bilderbuch fAor KinderA (Picture Book for Children) 1790-1830

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Tail of Blue whale diving (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda

Tail of Blue whale diving (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) possibly the pygmy sub-species of blue whale, (Balaenoptera musculus). Mirissa, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean. Photo taken under permit

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) tail, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Balaenoptera musculus, Blue Whale, side view

Balaenoptera musculus, Blue Whale, side view

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Largest animals size comparison

Largest animals size comparison. Array of past and present large animals, compared to a human (lower right). At top is the blue whale, a marine mammal and the largest-ever animal

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue Whales - Near surface Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

Blue Whales - Near surface Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico
FG-eb-921 Blue Whales - Near surface Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico Balaenoptera musculus Blue Whales - Near surface Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez)

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: The worlds largest animal, a blue whale raises its fluke out of the water

The worlds largest animal, a blue whale raises its fluke out of the water

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: A blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, raises its fluke in Loreto Bay National Marine Park

A blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, raises its fluke in Loreto Bay National Marine Park

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: USA, Tail fluke of Blue Whale (Balaenoptera Musculus); California

USA, Tail fluke of Blue Whale (Balaenoptera Musculus); California

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: ALASKA: WHALING. Cutting into a blue whale on a beach in Alaska

ALASKA: WHALING. Cutting into a blue whale on a beach in Alaska. Photograph, early 20th century

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Common Fin-whale (Physalus antiquorum)

Common Fin-whale (Physalus antiquorum)
Illustration engraving of a common Fin-whale (Physalus antiquorum, Balaenoptera physalus)

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Illustration of Blue Whale and young, Humpback Whale, Black Dolphin, Beaked Whale

Illustration of Blue Whale and young, Humpback Whale, Black Dolphin, Beaked Whale, Atlantic White-sided Dolphin, Spinner Dolphin, and White Whale

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale underwater with caustics on surface

Blue whale underwater with caustics on surface
Blue whale swimming underwater with bubbles trail and caustics on water surface

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Three blue whales move through their protected territory

Three blue whales move through their protected territory

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: St Louis World Fair

St Louis World Fair
Skeleton and cast of the biggest known whale, 75 feet long, caught off Newfoundland, on display at the 1904 World Fair held in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Partially-submerged blue whale blowing through its blow hole

Partially-submerged blue whale blowing through its blow hole

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale, artwork F007 / 8096

Blue whale, artwork F007 / 8096
Blue whale, computer artwork

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale, artwork F007 / 8097

Blue whale, artwork F007 / 8097
Blue whale, computer artwork

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Whale Illustration. C017 / 3513

Whale Illustration. C017 / 3513
Plate from 18th century encyclopedia showing an illustration of a whale. Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale model C016 / 6225

Blue whale model C016 / 6225
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) model on display in the Mammal and Whale Gallery at the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale model C016 / 6224

Blue whale model C016 / 6224
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) model on display in the Mammal and Whale Gallery at the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale feeding, artwork C018 / 0294

Blue whale feeding, artwork C018 / 0294
Blue whale feeding. Artwork sequence showing how a baleen whale such as this blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) feeds. Baleen whales feed on small crustaceans, such as krill (yellow)

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Whale watching, Mexico C014 / 0540

Whale watching, Mexico C014 / 0540
Whale watching. Tourists watching blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) from a boat. Photographed in the Sea of Cortes (Gulf of California), Mexico

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Whale watching, Mexico C014 / 0541

Whale watching, Mexico C014 / 0541
Whale watching. Tourists watching a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) from a boat. Photographed in the Sea of Cortes (Gulf of California), Mexico

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale, Southern Province, Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka, Asia

Blue whale, Southern Province, Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka, Asia

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue Whale Hall

Blue Whale Hall
View of Blue Whale Hall, Mammal Gallery, Gallery 24, Life Galleries at The Natural History Museum, London

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Balaenoptera musculus, blue whale and Balaenoptera physalus

Balaenoptera musculus, blue whale and Balaenoptera physalus
Plate 43 from British Mammals Vol. 1 & 2 by Archibald Thorburn, 1920-21

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: The Blue Whale Annual Fundraising Ball

The Blue Whale Annual Fundraising Ball

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Blue whale exhibit

Blue whale exhibit
The Whale Hall, the Natural History Museum, London

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: The new Whale hall, 1938

The new Whale hall, 1938

Background imageBlue Whale Collection: Men in jaws of bowhead whale, 1934

Men in jaws of bowhead whale, 1934
In late 1934 this bowhead whale skeleton was hoisted into position in the new Whale Hall, where it still hangs today




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The majestic blue whale, the largest creature to ever roam the Earth, gracefully emerges from the depths of the ocean. With its enormous size and sleek body, it is a true marvel of nature. In one breathtaking illustration, a minke whale showcases its blowhole as it breaks through the surface of the water. The sheer power behind this simple act is awe-inspiring. Moving on to the Gulf of California in Mexico, we witness a magnificent blue whale gliding near the surface. Its vibrant blue skin glistens under the sunlight, creating a mesmerizing sight for all who are lucky enough to witness it. Venturing into Sri Lanka's Indian Ocean, another blue whale dives beneath its surface with grace and ease. The vastness and mystery that lies beneath captivate our imagination as we wonder what secrets these mighty creatures hold. As we explore Baja California's Coronado Islands, an underwater shot reveals a stunning image of a blue whale swimming peacefully below us. Its presence alone fills us with tranquility and reminds us of how small we truly are in comparison. A subspecies known as pygmy blue whales also make their appearance in this collection. We see them diving downwards into unknown depths or surfacing together in perfect harmony off Baja California's coast. The tail fin of one such pygmy sub-species catches our attention - an intricate display of strength and beauty that leaves us longing for more glimpses into their world. Continuing our journey off Sri Lanka's shores, we encounter yet another grand spectacle: a blue whale swimming effortlessly through motion-filled waters. It serves as a reminder that life never stops moving forward; just like these gentle giants continue their eternal migration across oceans. Finally, an aerial shot captures multiple blue whales surfacing simultaneously off Baja California's coast - an extraordinary sight that highlights both their social nature and immense numbers still present today despite past threats they have faced.