The Gulf of Corcovado in the northern Patagonia region of Chile is one of the world's great breeding grounds for many species of marine mammals including blue whales. Blue whales are the largest animals ever to inhabit the Earth – far larger than the largest dinosaurs – and their population used to be measured in the millions, but has been decimated to the point that they are now on the endangered list.
Now there is a 4,000 square mile region of the gulf that gives them the maximum level of protection, included strict regulation of shipping and other maritime traffic. And the government is working with scientists to protect an area at least 10 times that sixe in the near future.