Figure 1 – The 2014 “haul out” of 45,000 walruses along the Northern Alaskan coast. Image from NOAA.

I am thinking that the picture of the day is the one of Figure 1.  It was released by NOAA on September 27 as part of their annual aerial survey of marine mammals and shows a “haul out” of walruses in Northern Alaska.  Estimates now are that there are about 45,000 individuals in the mammalian cluster.

These events occur when melting ice robs the walrus of his/her favorite lounging spot and they have to resort to hauling out onto the beach.  One local news woman commented this morning that there definitely “a shortage of towel space.” Unfortunately, this is likely an effect of melting arctic seas.  The picture is amazing and poignant!

“The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
“If this were only cleared away,”
They said, “it would be grand!””

Lewis Carrol, (from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)