Humpback whales in Stephens Passage near Admiralty Island, Alaska (© AlaskaStock/Masterfile)

【July 22 2015】The song of a humpback whale can last up to 20 minutes, though an individual humpback may go on singing for hours on end. Both male and female whales vocalize, but only the males sing. Since they have no vocal cords, the sounds are made when the whales force air through their nasal passages. Why they sing is the real mystery, with many theories still being explored. Some think it’s to attract a mate (though there’s little evidence to support this) while others suspect the sounds help with echolocation.Explore breathtaking Gallery from the HuluTrip homepage over the past 5 years..