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 woman wears VR glasses while the projection mapping is cast on table and walls during its media preview at “TREE BY NAKED, yoyogi park” restaurant in Tokyo, Japan on July 19, 2018. This restaurant incorporates virtual reality, projection mapping, and music to enhance diners' enjoyment of their food. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

People cool off at the water park during the “Circuit” the international gay festival in Vilassar de Dalt, Spain, Tuesday, August 9, 2016. The special international event has attracted many thousands and the gay festival “Circuit” runs until August 14. (Photo by Manu Fernandez/AP Photo)

A male Philippine eagle named Geothermica is seen in an exclosure at Jurong Bird Park in Singapore on November 27, 2019. Singapore unveiled two Philippine eagles at its main aviary November 27, the first breeding pair of the critically endangered raptors to be brought outside their native country as part of a conservation plan. (Photo by Roslan Rahman/AFP Photo)

Over just 18 months, Sir Charles Barkley, a French bulldog from Seattle, Washington, has become an internet sensation. His daily photos have attracted him an Instagram following of more than 115,000 fans. Photo: Sir Charles Barkley enjoys some play park time. (Photo by Caters News)

A youngster with the Miami Seaquarium Spring Break Campers group gets a chance to touch one of two loggerhead sea turtles that are prepared to be released back into the wild at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park after undergoing rehabilitation at Miami Seaquarium March 13, 2012 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Brides-to-be participate in the "Running of the Brides" race in a park in Bangkok November 28, 2015. A hundred husbands and wives-to-be wore their wedding dresses and running shoes and competed in an event for a combined prize worth 1 million Thai baht ($27,928), according to the organisers. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)

A truck lays overturned onto a car following strong winds at a Kurnell industrial park after a rare tornado hit the Sydney suburb December 16, 2015. The tornado hit Sydney on Wednesday with destructive winds above 200 km an hour (125 mph) and cricket ball-sized hail, bringing down trees and power lines, tearing off roofs, overturning vehicles and causing flash flooding. (Photo by Jason Reed/Reuters)