1. Ghadames, LibyaPhoto: George Steinmetz Tight clusters of traditional mud-brick-and-palm houses have stood for centuries in Ghadames, a pre-Roman oasis town in the Sahara. Rooftop walkways allowed women to move freely, concealed from men’s view.

    Ghadames, Libya
    Photo: George Steinmetz

    Tight clusters of traditional mud-brick-and-palm houses have stood for centuries in Ghadames, a pre-Roman oasis town in the Sahara. Rooftop walkways allowed women to move freely, concealed from men’s view.

     


  2. Three Sisters Springs, FloridaPhoto: Paul Nicklen Kayaks crowd Three Sisters Springs, where people and mantees maintain a controversial coexistence. To reach warm water they need to survive winter, manatees often must run a gantlet of kayakers and snorkelers eager to interact with the marine mammals.

    Three Sisters Springs, Florida
    Photo: Paul Nicklen

    Kayaks crowd Three Sisters Springs, where people and mantees maintain a controversial coexistence. To reach warm water they need to survive winter, manatees often must run a gantlet of kayakers and snorkelers eager to interact with the marine mammals.

     


  3. Mammoth Tusk Hunter, SiberiaPhoto: Evgenia Arbugaeva Siberian hunter Slava Dolbaev uses a spear to dig out a corkscrewed mammoth tusk from a coastal ice cliff. Prying loose a single tusk can take hours, even days. Tusk hunters often leave colored beads or silver jewelry as offering to local spirits.

    Mammoth Tusk Hunter, Siberia
    Photo: Evgenia Arbugaeva

    Siberian hunter Slava Dolbaev uses a spear to dig out a corkscrewed mammoth tusk from a coastal ice cliff. Prying loose a single tusk can take hours, even days. Tusk hunters often leave colored beads or silver jewelry as offering to local spirits.

     


  4. Kykuit Gardens, New YorkPhoto: Diane Cook and Len Jenshel To know Kykuit, said William Welles Bosworth, who designed its gardens, “one must experience … late evening when all is peacefully eloquent.”

    Kykuit Gardens, New York
    Photo: Diane Cook and Len Jenshel

    To know Kykuit, said William Welles Bosworth, who designed its gardens, “one must experience … late evening when all is peacefully eloquent.”

     


  5. Monte Perdido, SpainPhoto: Maxime Daviron The north face of Monte Perdido in the Spanish Pyrenees. The mountain was masked by the clouds for three days, revealing the glacier occasionally.

    Monte Perdido, Spain
    Photo: Maxime Daviron

    The north face of Monte Perdido in the Spanish Pyrenees. The mountain was masked by the clouds for three days, revealing the glacier occasionally.

     


  6. Deer, Czech RepublicPhoto: Veronika Kolev

    Deer, Czech Republic
    Photo: Veronika Kolev

     


  7. Zebras, SerengetiPhoto: Giulio Zanni Image taken in the Serengeti in Tanzania during the migration period. Zebras and wildebeest were gathering on the edge of the river, waiting for the right moment to cross.

    Zebras, Serengeti
    Photo: Giulio Zanni

    Image taken in the Serengeti in Tanzania during the migration period. Zebras and wildebeest were gathering on the edge of the river, waiting for the right moment to cross.

     


  8. Lightning, New MexicoPhoto: Carsten Peter A ground fire ignited by a lightning storm near Elephant Butte, New Mexico, paints the horizon with brown smoke. At right, another cloud-to-ground strike flashes through a shaft of rain.

    Lightning, New Mexico
    Photo: Carsten Peter

    A ground fire ignited by a lightning storm near Elephant Butte, New Mexico, paints the horizon with brown smoke. At right, another cloud-to-ground strike flashes through a shaft of rain.

     


  9. Millennium Park, ChicagoPhoto: Ulises Rivero Kids playing or “praying” under the water towers in the Millennium Park in Chicago.

    Millennium Park, Chicago
    Photo: Ulises Rivero

    Kids playing or “praying” under the water towers in the Millennium Park in Chicago.

     


  10. Elephants, TanzaniaPhoto: Amanda Schmidt After spending two weeks building a windmill in Tanzania, I get a chance to sit back and enjoy the scenery. This big guy seems just as interested in me as I am in him.

    Elephants, Tanzania
    Photo: Amanda Schmidt

    After spending two weeks building a windmill in Tanzania, I get a chance to sit back and enjoy the scenery. This big guy seems just as interested in me as I am in him.