Guardian of the Mangroves – Overall Winner. Tanya Houppermans, Cuba. A curious American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) swims right up to Tanya, at Gardens of the Queen (Jardines De La Reina), an archipelago off the coast of Cuba. It has been strictly protected since 1996, and is one of the most untouched marine ecosystems in the world. ‍ “The healthy population of American crocodiles is down to the pristine condition of the mangroves and I wanted to capture close ups of this gentle giant in its natural habitat. I hope this image can illustrate that protecting areas like this is so critical”. (Photo by Tanya Griffin Houppermans/Mangrove Photographer of the Year)

Soccer fans wearing Argentina's football team jersey arrive at workers' stadium to watch a friendly match between Australia and Argentina in Beijing on June 15, 2023. (Photo by Jade Gao/AFP Photo)

Models present creations during the Richard Quinn catwalk show during London Fashion Week in London, Britain on February 18, 2023. (Photo by Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

“Vull sortir a la superficie, i ... respirar”. (Photo by Véronique Carreño Andreu)

P.S. Most pictures are presented in high resolution. To see Hi-Res images – just TWICE click on any picture. In other words, click small picture – opens the BIG picture. Click BIG picture – opens VERY BIG picture (if available; this principle works anywhere on the site AvaxNews).

A female brown bear with cubs fishing on Lake Kronotskoye as part of the South Kamchatka, Russia on Sanctuary, August 13, 2017. (Photo by TASS/Barcroft Images)

A girl broadcasts at live streaming talent agency Three Minute TV in Beijing, China on April 12, 2017. Three Minute TV also arranges cosmetic surgery at partner hospitals for its anchors, arranges small bank loans for the surgery, photographs and markets the anchors and helps them find acting opportunities Deng said. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

Winners of a competition enjoy a meal 450ft up on the roof of a central London skyscraper on August 21, 2018, as Deliveroo recreates “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper”, the photograph taken during the construction of the Rockefeller Center in New York City, 1932. (Photo by Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images)

A walruses at Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg, Germany on July, 7, 2015. (Photo by Werner Struss/Startraks action)