By Sorrel Moseley-Williams
Herald staff

Spectators in the Peninsula Valdés in Chubut province welcomed the southern right whales yesterday when they reached their winter migratory destination of the Puerto Madryn and Puerto Piramides coast line. They will remain in these waters until the end of November.

The enormous Eubalaena australis, which as an adult can measure up to 16 metres in length and weigh between 50 and 70 tonnes, make their way to this area specifically for breeding.

While thousands watched them swim into view yesterday live on television, more than one million tourists will head to the Patagonian province over the coming months for whale-watching activities. Numbers peak between September and November when activity is at its height.

The Herald filmed the southern right's presence in the Argentine sea. This species is easily identifiable by the large white callosities on its head which stand out aginst its dark grey skin.

"It's a slow progress and there aren't many whales at the moment," said Claudio Stessens, private secretary for the Chubut province government. "But they are making their way up the coast and fortunately every year the number of whales is increasing."

Normally travelling in pods of two or three, several distinct pods could already be seen, including a mother and calf which inquisitively approached the two launches which took to the waters yesterday morning.

This morning at 11am, the governor of Chubut, Mario Das Neves, will officially open the whale-watching season in Puerto Piramides.