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Blowholes are a whale's nostrils and are located on the top or back of the whale's head.
Blowholes are covered by muscular flaps that keep water from entering them when the whale is under water. In the relaxed state, the flap covers the blowhole. A blowhole leads to the whale's trachea and then to its lungs. This exhaled air from the blowhole is called the blow and usually forms a gusher or a bushy stream of misty air and vapor. Just before a whale dives underwater, strong muscles surrounding the blowhole relax and the protective flap covers the blowhole.