Russia's Maria Sharapova carries the torch during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Friday, February 7, 2014. (Photo by Matt Dunham/Associated Press)

The Kingdom of Pagan (also commonly known as the Pagan Dynasty and the Pagan Empire) was the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute modern-day Burma (Myanmar). Pagan's 250-year rule over the Irrawaddy valley and its periphery laid the foundation for the ascent of Burmese language and culture, the spread of Burman ethnicity in Upper Burma, and the growth of Theravada Buddhism in Burma and in mainland Southeast Asia.

This incredible panoramic photographs are distorted to create miniature worlds and terrifying tunnels. (Photo by Caters News)

Two race pigs jump over an obstacle during a rural festivity in reference to Maria Ascension in San Bernardino, Switzerland on Monday, August 15 2016. (Photo by Samuel Golay/Keystone/TI-Press via AP Photo)

Young woman, 20+, with goose bumps, standing on the beach, Niendorf at the Baltic Sea, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Europe on September 1, 2016. (Photo by Alamy Stock Photo)

A P-51 Mustang named “Charlotte's Chariot” from the Southern Heritage Air Foundation flies past a cloud of smoke and fire from a nearby battle reenactment during the Wings Over Houston Airshow in Houston, on Saturday, November 1, 2014. Battle reenactments are part of the yearly show held at Ellington Airport. (Photo by Kar Hlava/AP Photo/Bay Area Citizen)

A monkey is led by its trainer Qi Defang during training for a circus in Suzhou, Anhui province, November 29, 2014. Suzhou is known as the hometown of circus troupes in China and has more than 300 circus troupes. (Photo by William Hong/Reuters)

A photographer has weathered some of America's most violent storms to capture these stunning snaps. Storm chaser Mike Mezeul II, 30, has traveled all over the US to shoot the likes of mammoth thunderstorms and surreal cloud patterns. His incredible collection of storm images are the result of more than 15 years of photography and thousands of miles of travel. Here: Mike waiting for the storm at Cheyenne, Wyoming, June 2014. (Photo by Mike Mezeul II/Caters News)