Whale washed up on beach
A WHALE measuring 40 foot was washed up at Hest Bank last week.
The mammal, thought to be a Fin whale, was first spotted on the mud flats near Priest Skeer last Thursday morning after being washed in by the tide.
Fisherman Stephen Clarke said the dead whale, which was young and weighed between six and 10 tons, was drifting around a quarter of a mile with each tide change.
"I think it had probably died from natural causes," Mr Clarke said. "There were no marks on it and it didn't seem to have been damaged in any way."
The whale had disappeared from the shore by Saturday afternoon and floated back out to sea, but reappeared in Arnside by Tuesday lunchtime. Visitors are being warned not to go near the whale as it is situated near dangerous sands.
Fin whales can grow up to 80ft in length. They are recognisable by ridges on their underside and a lack of teeth.
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Weather for Lancaster
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
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