Fin whales are one of the largest whale species in the world. According to experts, the animal sighted is a juvenile. The fact that it is a fin whale can be recognised by the comparatively small, sickle-shaped dorsal fin, which sits far back on the body.
Several sightings since the beginning of the year
The animal can be identified by a characteristic notch on its dorsal fin - presumably the same fin whale that according to NDR has been observed several times in the fjord since the beginning of the year.
The fin whale was last sighted from Wassersleben beach in the municipality of Harrislee. The current clear and windless weather favours observations: The chances of spotting the animal are greatest when the water surface is smooth.
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Whales in the Baltic Sea - a spectacle
It is not uncommon for whales to cause a stir in the Baltic Sea. In July, a humpback whale was spotted off the northern tip of Rügen near Nonnevitz. A few months earlier, anglers observed such an animal off the island of Hiddensee before it swam off in the direction of Bornholm. Humpback whales, which are known for their spectacular leaps and complex songs, occasionally stray from the deeper waters of the oceans into the comparatively shallow Baltic Sea.
