February 14 – World Whale Day

Posted on February 14, 2015


While many people are celebrating Valentine's Day, some folks are celebrating whales. And it's not because we associate hearts with Valentine's Day, and blue whales have the largest hearts of any living creature...

Did you know that a blue whale's heart is the size of a small car?


It can weigh over 1,500 pounds (680 kg)!

The aorta is large enough for an adult human to crawl through!

The blue whale's huge heart often beats just 5 or 6 times per minute – sometimes even fewer! – whereas human hearts beat around 70 times per minute (while resting).

Anyway...

World Whale Day occurs on the second Saturday of February. It just so happens that THIS year, that falls on Valentine's Day!

In Maui, World Whale Day is a big deal. Last year 23,000 visitors and residents joined in with the Kalama Park Whale Day celebration. The day honors the humpback whales that go to Maui every winter. There is a Parade of Whales with costumed sea characters and floats of all sorts created by local organizations and schools. There is a concert, a dance party, tons of food booths, a carnival, an artisans' fair, and an auction.

All the proceeds of the auction go to the Pacific Whale Foundation. I'm not sure, but there may be other ways that the parade and fair connect with...you know, actual whales!!!
  • Here is a super-short video about a famous photo of humpback whales.
  • And here is a longer video about the songs of the humpback.



Also on this date:


Amusement park ride creator George Ferris's birthday


















and more Valentine's Day
















Plan ahead:

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