When a basking shark opens its jaws, try not to find yourself in this situation:
Basking sharks, that can measure 40 feet long and weigh 8,600 pounds ( even larger in the Atlantic ), are the planet's second-largest sharks ( only the whale shark is larger ).
Did you know that Puget Sound is home to an impressive array of sharks ? At least six species of sharks have been reported in local waters. But only three species - spiny dogfish, sixgill sharks AND basking sharks - have been encountered with any regularity.
But don't worry, basking sharks are harmless creatures. They feed exclusively on massive quantities of microscopic plankton.