Diversity of Earth Photos

The awesome diversity of Earth captured for National Geographic Contest

The wonder and beauty of Planet Earth is illustrated perfectly in this years ongoing series of entries submitted for National Geographic Traveler's Photo Contest

 FÈnec The Soul of The Desert: The fennec, or desert fox is a canine mammal species of the genus Vulpes, which inhabits the Sahara Desert and Arabia. With its features ears, this is the smallest species of the family Canidae. It is endangered and its main threat is illegal in other countries.

Hidden in Plain Sight: During my visit to the Amalfi Coast in Italy I ventured for a day to Sorrento. This gorgeous island had an amazing coastline that I stuck to for the day. Because of a mix-up with ferry dock numbers I missed my ferry and had to wait two hours for the next one. I decided I would head back to town and went down a street I had passed a few times that day. The ground opened up, almost out of nowhere, where this absolute beauty, apparently "Valle dei Mulini", was which I gazed at and shot for almost the entire period before I left for my next boat.

If Only I Could Fly: Spontaneous moment captured contemplating a beautiful and colorful sunset with all city lights down below.

Flying Monk: Young monks begin their service very early in life in their studies in the monastery.  This monk was young and energetic and decided to "fly" in his exuberance for life

SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE: A reflection of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the basin of the fountain opposite the mosque where the main dome of the mosque appears

Tormenta: On June 4, 2011 began Cordon Caulle eruption, located in the Region of Los Rios in Chile. A rash that lasted about 12 months where people and animals had become accustomed to living with the daily fall of ash, which also caused problems in the air traffic in the south of America. The first days of the eruption could be seen from hundreds of miles around explosions and thunderstorms from the expulsion of lava. This photograph was taken on the second night of eruption from the town of Lago Ranco.

Coming of Age: Seijin no Hi or Coming of Age Day is a traditional Japanese holiday which is organized on the second Monday in January. In Japan the age of majority is 20 wearing kimono

Snowmelt in the mountains: This picture was taken in Spain (Parque natural "Sierra de Grazalema"). In meadows where cattle during heavy rains, many small gaps are formed. These ponds raised slightly eutrophic freshwater algae. These algae live with herbaceous plants and when the lakes freeze very attractive compositions are created. Here we appreciate frozen bubbles and lines formed on thawing. This occurs when the temperature rises past dawn. I used macro lens because this wild geranium leaf (Erodium sp.) is very small

Religious procession in Cadiz

Swim with Jelly Fish: Its like a dream when u swimming with harmless jellyfish...

Temple At The Foot of Mount Bromo: At the foot of the active Volcano Bromo on the Island of Java lies the Hindu Temple Pura Luhur Poten which is often immersed in a soft mist at dusk. On this day Mount Bromo showed unusually strong activity, which lead to a exceptionally high and dense dust cloud

Geyser Eruption at Night: The eruption of old faithful geyser at night

The Scream: Taken during a dive . 6 m deep. A young yellow mouth eel

Walking Chameleon:  It is a domestic animal of a small boy

The Reynisdrangar, Iceland: Basalt sea stacks called Reynisdrangar, located under the Reynisfjall mountain, close to Vik i Myrdal in southern Iceland. The legend was that there were three trolls who were pulling a three masted ship to the shore unsuccessfully, but they were caught by the sunlight at dawn and turned them into needles of rock

A rare reflection:  Returning from a snorkeling excursion during a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, wind speed dropped to zero and the ocean became a mirror. As the horizon disappeared, only the seaplane, sitting confidently between the blue elements, provided a sense of space and felt like a link to the rest of the world

Fly Cap For A Vine Snake: A fly lands on the head of a vine snake in the Choco of Colombia

Starry Starry Night: In the rainy season the insects are in abundance in the Kalahari desert. Outside my tent is a big light and attracts lots of bugs. The Bibron's gecko's take advantage and perched themselves anywhere close to the light-source and have a feast. The glow from the left is from my fire

Shadows and Light: A lone tree in the Palouse region of Washington glows brilliantly in the sunlight as clouds pass by, isolating it in a band of light.  Undulating hills provide depth to the lit scene, captured during the brief growing season where the wheat is a rich shade of green

(Courtesy of forwarded mail from HonToo Fang)