NEW YORK (June 26, 2001 ) - Once hunted to the brink of extinction, whales are now starting to make a comeback, which makes this summer a good time to get out and see the world's largest animals in the wild. Outdoor recreation and adventure travel web site GORP.com has released its list of top spots for catching a glimpse of these gentle giants.

"They can be as big as dinosaurs," said Mark Leger, a GORP.com editor, "and their ballet can be magical to watch. But care must be taken to keep from disturbing the creatures, which are as sensitive as they are large."

"Wherever you go whale watching, show your concern for whales by choosing an ecologically responsible operator," said Leger. "Key things to look for include the presence of a trained naturalist on the trip. And whales and dolphins should never be chased. Instead, most respectful excursions will hold back at least 300 feet, leaving it up to the whale if it wants to get a closer look at you. If they choose to approach you, that's a nice thrill."

GORP.com's top ten include:

1. Baja, Mexico - Sea kayakers worldwide come here for some of the planet's best paddling and the whales seem to have caught the buzz. More than 20 species of cetaceans spend time around Baja. Seeing a whale breach from the viewpoint of your kayak's cockpit is unbeatable. Season: year-round

2. Cape Cod, Massachusetts - The home of Moby Dick and the traditional home of whaling in America, the Cape is considered the best place on the East Coast of the United States to spot whales, including the very rare Northern right whale. Season: April - October

3. Northern California Coast - From spring through fall, humpbacks, blue whales, minkes, right whales, and orcas grace the waters from Big Sur to Fort Bragg. Ninety-four percent of the world's gray whale population swim within a mile of Point Reyes lookout. Season: year-round

4. Vancouver Island, British Columbia - This island off Canada's west coast offers up the best opportunity to spot orcas the way they were meant to be seen. Season: July - September

5. Silver Bank, Dominican Republic - The humpback whale sanctuary based here is where the humpbacks gather during late winter and early spring to mate and breed. These lively creatures sometimes engage in an activity called spy-hopping, lifting themselves out of the water with one gigantic push. Season: January - April

6. Lofoten Islands of Norway - A sperm whale's idea of a "guys-only weekend." While the females stay with the young in warmer climates, the males can be found in the waters around this chain of islands just above the Arctic Circle. Season: May - September

7. South Africa - With more than 1,200 miles of whale-viewing coastline, this African shore presents the best opportunity for the motion-sickness-afflicted to view the big mammals. South African waters are home to more than 37 species of whales, as well as African penguins and cape fur seals. Season: July - November

8. Masoala National Park in Madagascar, Africa - The best place in the world to hear the latest in humpback whale music. Activities in this new park, other than hearing these giants sing, include spotting the playful bottlenose and spinner dolphins. Season: year-round

9. Kaikoura, New Zealand - If you find yourself near here, please charter a whale-watching boat and climb aboard. This may well be the best opportunity you'll get to see a sperm whale exhale a plume of water fifteen feet into the air. Season: year-round

10. Shikoku, Japan - Like other countries with a long history of whaling, Japan is experimenting with whale watching as an economically viable alternative to whale hunting. On the shores of the mountainous islands here, the same folks that used to go whaling are now leading tours to spot Bryde's, sperm, and minke whales. Season: year-round

For those looking for a close encounter of the undersea kind, www.gorptravel.com has adventure travel packages to whale watching spots ranging from $725 for a nine-day kayak tour in Mexico to $1,750 for a 6-day multisport adventure to Norway's Lofoten Islands. For more information, would-be seafarers should call toll-free 877-440-GORP (4677) and ask for a whale watching package.

GORP.com is the largest and most trafficked Web site dedicated to outdoor recreation and adventure travel. With nearly 250,000 pages of content, GORP offers a complete package of authoritative, award-winning content; a large, active community of outdoor enthusiasts; and a full-range of e-commerce offerings drawing nearly 30 million page views per month. Started in 1995, GORP offers a full-service active travel-booking feature with thousands of trips, accessible via the Web or telephone. GORP has been cited by Yahoo!, US News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and many others, as the leader in this category and a "Best of the Web" site. AOL Keyword: GORP

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