Male elephant seals (bulls) rear up on their foreflippers and fight for territory and harems of females. Bull elephant seals will haul out and fight from December through March, nearly fasting the entire time as they maintain their territory and harem. They bite and tear at each other on the neck and shoulders, drawing blood and creating scars on the tough hides. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15394
The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River drops 308 feet at the head of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. A long exposure blurs the fast-flowing water. The canyon is approximately 10,000 years old, 20 miles long, 1000 ft deep, and 2500 ft wide. Its yellow, orange and red-colored walls are due to oxidation of the various iron compounds in the soil, and to a lesser degree, sulfur content.
Location: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Image ID: 13338