Frida Karlsson takes 2nd place, Therese Johaug of Norway takes 1st place, Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg of Norway takes 3rd place during the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Women's Cross Country Classic on February 26, 2019 in Seefeld, Austria. (Photo by Lisi Niesner/Reuters)

Lukas Irmler balances on a 800 meter long highline 200 meters above Segnesboden, on Friday, June 28, 2019, in Flims, Switzerland. The highline is Switzerland's longest and will be set up untill Sunday in the Sardona World Heritage Region. (Photo by Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP Photo)

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and these striking images of 2017 are no exception. The photo highlights include incredible snapshots of the natural world as well as some awesome animal and human encounters. The vibrant gallery also shows thrill-seekers pushing themselves to the limit with breathtaking stunts captured in perfect clarity. The pictures have been taken by a host of photographers from around the world. Here: The two lion cubs singing their hearts out at Antelope park in Zimbabwe. (Photo by David Jenkins/Caters News Agency)

A boy looks at a six-metre tall luminescent puppet, operated by ten performers, during a preview of Vivid Sydney, promoted as the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas, in Sydney, Australia on May 23, 2018. “Vivid” is a major outdoor cultural event featuring light installations and projections with the annual event this year running from May 25 to June 16, 2018. (Photo by David Gray/Reuters)

Naked riders seen participating during the World Naked Bike Ride to demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on city streets in London, United Kingdom on June 9, 2018. People chose to ride naked to celebrate cycling and body freedom. (Photo by Brais G. Rouco/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Actors dressed as Santa Claus take a refreshing bath at Bellevue Beach north of Copenhagen, Denmark, on July 24, 2018, as they take part in the World Santa Congress, an annual two-day event held every summer in Copenhagen. (Photo by Mads Claus Rasmussen/AFP Photo/Ritzau Scanpix)

An Egyptian boy holds a camel at the Berqash camel market northeast of Cairo, on August 17, 2018. Muslims across the world are preparing for the Eid al-Adha holiday when custom requires the faithful to make a sacrifice. (Photo by Khaled Desouki/AFP Photo)

Technical staff take shelter as a helicopter takes off prior to the Nendaz Freeride skiing and snowboard competition, a Freeride World Tour Qualifier (FWQ) event, on the Mont Gond in Nendaz, Switzerland on March 21, 2018. (Photo by Valentin Flauraud/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)