A quake-resistant dome house decorated with Japan's popular “Kumamon” bear character is pictured at the Aso Farm Land resort in Aso, Japan on November 6, 2017. Cabins modelled after Japanese sweets and made from polystyrene foam withstood last year's deadly earthquakes in Kumamoto prefecture. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

A woman stands in front of graffiti depicting Venezuela's late former President Hugo Chavez, right, and revolutionary hero Simon Bolivar, in downtown Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, October 25, 2017. (Photo by Rodrigo Abd/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)

Yakutsk, with a population of around 270,000, holds its own title: that of the coldest city on Earth. Here: Frost-encrusted house in the city centre. (Photo by Amos Chapple/Courtesy Images/RFE/RL)

A dark Devon Rex cat is held by its owner during a competition in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, September 26, 2015. More than 300 cats entered the international feline beauty competition in the Romanian capital. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)

A bomb squad member wearing heavy equipment leaves the explosion site at the Yasukuni shrine precints in Tokyo, Japan, 23 November 2015. More than 100 police, firefighters and officials gathered at the site after an explosion was heard in the toilets of the Yasukuni Shrine, a controversial war shrine in the capital Tokyo. Local media reports said police found possible traces of an explosion, as well as batteries and wires at the shrine. There were no reports of injuries. (Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA)

A girl attends Friday prayers in front of an army tank in Tahrir Square in Cairo February 18, 2011. Five years ago thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding the end of the 30-year reign of President Mubarak as Egypt became the second country to join the Arab Spring. After weeks of clashes, strikes and protests across Egypt, Mubarak resigned on February 11, 2011. (Photo by Suhaib Salem/Reuters)

A gaucho rides an unbroken or untamed horse during Creole week celebrations in Montevideo, March 23, 2016. All Easter week gauchos all over Uruguay and neighboring Argentina and Brazil come to Montevideo to compete for the award of best rider. (Photo by Andres Stapff/Reuters)