Tom Crean Book – 'Crean – The Extraordinary Life Of An Irish Hero'

Rediscover an Irish Hero

Tom Crean Book – 'Crean – The Extraordinary Life Of An Irish Hero'

Rediscover an Irish Hero
What Do Whales Sound Like in Antarctica? | Hear Antarctica KS1/KS2 and 3rd-6th class

Tom Crean's Amazing Antarctica › Hear Antarctica › Whales

What Do Whales Sound Like in Antarctica?

Tom Crean, your Antarctic guide

Whales were some of the biggest animals we ever saw, swimming right past our ship! Press play below to hear the songs they sing.

A humpback whale swimming near Antarctic ice
Listen

Humpback whales visit the waters around Antarctica to feed on tiny sea creatures called krill. They are famous for their beautiful, haunting songs, which can travel for many miles underwater. Tom Crean and his crewmates would sometimes hear whales blowing air loudly through their blowholes as they surfaced right next to the ship.

Did you know? A humpback whale's song can last for up to twenty minutes, and whales in the same area often sing very similar songs to each other.

Seeing a whale up close was an unforgettable moment for early explorers. Some described the sound of a whale's breath as being like a burst of steam — loud enough to hear from far across the water.

Try It Yourself Take a big breath in, then blow it out slowly through pursed lips to make a "whoosh" sound — that's a little bit like the sound a whale makes when it breathes out at the surface!

Discover More about Tom

Did you know Tom sailed all the way to Antarctica three times? On his journeys he saw and heard even more amazing things than what you've just explored here. You can read all about his adventures in Tom the Mighty Explorer.

Discover the Book →

A beautifully illustrated introduction to polar exploration for children aged 6–10 — a lovely companion to KS1/KS2 topics on famous explorers and habitats.

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