A woman arrives to cast her vote at a polling station as police officers stand guard during the general election, in Peshawar, Pakistan on February 8, 2024. (Photo by Fayaz Aziz/Reuters)

A young chimpanzee reacts on a pirogue with Rohmay Ndoulek, from the Papaye International association, during an outing in the Douala-Edea Natural Park in Marienberg on December 15, 2024. In the heart of Douala-Edea Natural Park, dedicated Cameroonian caretakers tend to and rehabilitate chimpanzees, victims of poaching and deforestation, at Papaye International, a sanctuary dubbed a “monkey paradise”. Founded in 2001, the association funded by 30 million friends and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation regularly receives eco-volunteers from all over the world. (Photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo/AFP Photo)

An Iraqi man comforts his 4-year-old son at a regroupment center for POWs of the 101st Airborne Division near An Najaf, Iraq, March 31, 2003. The man was seized in An Najaf with his son and the U.S. military did not want to separate them. (Photo by Jean-Marc Bouju/Associated Press)

“Red Land: Sunset Cloud Village is one of the most picturesque places in Red Land, China. As its name indicates, it's best to see before sunset. The reddish brown soil turns redder after rainfall and after farmers plow the land”. (Photo and comment by Peng Jiang/National Geographic Photo Contest via The Atlantic)

Star Wars collector James Burns, 44, poses for a photograph with some of his collection in London December 2, 2015. He said “I've met so many wonderful people, all over the world. It's a wonderful community of likeminded people with an interest in Star Wars. There's nothing else like it”. (Photo by Paul Hackett/Reuters)

This particular Gingko tree (aka Gingko Biloba) is not just any tree. It was reportedly planted by Tang Dynasty's Emperor Taizong, the emperor portrayed in Fang Bingbing's Empress of China, from over a thousand years ago. Take a look at these stunning photos when the Gingko tree displays its full glory in late autumn.

A competitor dressed up as Santa Claus jumps into the sea during the 102nd Barcelona Traditional Christmas Swimming Cup at the Old Harbour of Barcelona on December 25, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“Catch of the Decade”. Can you guess what happened next? Photo location: Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA. (Photo and caption by Aaron Baggenstos/National Geographic Photo Contest)