11 Animals With Mind-Blowing Navigation Skills We Barely Understand

5. Salmon: The Freshwater Navigators

Salmon are iconic for their remarkable life cycle, which involves a precise migration from the ocean to freshwater streams where they spawn. This journey, often spanning hundreds of miles, requires an intricate navigation system that guides them back to their natal rivers. Salmon are believed to use a combination of olfactory cues and geomagnetic navigation to find their way home. As they approach freshwater, their sense of smell becomes the dominant guide, allowing them to detect the unique chemical signature of their birthplace. This dual navigation system is a testament to the salmon's adaptability and the evolutionary pressures that have shaped their migratory behavior. The study of salmon navigation provides insights into the complex interplay between sensory systems and ecological demands.