7 walrus facts that you probably didn’t know

Did you know walruses can turn pink?

I’d never thought much about walruses until I was quietly approaching one by sea kayak. My guide, Jane Whitney, was wary of the creatures. Walruses weigh more than a ton and could have easily tipped us into the icy Arctic waters. Over the course of a week touring the Norwegian Arctic with Quark Expeditions, I had several walrus encounters and learned some fascinating facts about these animals.

First, walruses come in two types: Atlantic and Pacific. The ones I saw were Atlantic walruses, which live in the northern waters of Greenland, Canada, Norway, and Russia. Pacific walruses are found between Alaska and Russia. 

Dive deeper with these fun walrus facts.

The tip of a yellow sea kayak in icy water with a walrus laying on an ice floe in the background.
Paddling up to a walrus. / Photo by Teresa Bergen