Endangered fin whale washes ashore on Anchorage tidal flats in Alaska

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, US - NOV. 18: A 15-meter-long (47-foot) fin whale, classified as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, washed ashore along Anchorage's Tony Knowles Coastal Trail over the weekend, drawing hundreds of visitors and sparking an investigation into the cause of its death. The whale’s massive carcass, lying on its side with its mouth wide open, became a temporary attraction for locals On Monday morning, dozens of people braved freezing temperatures to view the frost-covered remains resting on the frozen mudflats near Westchester Lagoon. Some onlookers ventured inside the baleen to take photos, prompting authorities to issue safety warnings. Biologists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have secured the carcass to the ground by its fluke to prevent it from washing away. NOAA officials plan to investigate the potential causes of death and any impacts on the local marine ecosystem. Fin whales are known for their long migrations, spending summers in northern waters, including the Chukchi Sea. As one of the fastest whale species, they are often referred to as the "greyhounds of the sea."(Footage by Hasan Akbaş/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)