Just a week before Rio de Janeiro hosts South America's first Olympics, city residents expressed mixed feelings about the cost and security of the Games, while holding out hope they will bring joy to a nation facing economic and political crises. The conflicted thoughts mirror a recent survey by the Datafolha polling group showing that half of Brazilians were opposed to holding the Games, while 63 percent think the costs of hosting the event will outweigh benefits. (Photo by Pilar Olivares/Reuters)

Three Palestinian women sit on a beachfront as a wave comes rushing by in Gaza City on November 17, 2016. (Photo by Mohammed Abed/AFP Photo)

A little red flying fox dips a toe in a lake at the mouth of Katherine gorge in the Northern Territory, Nitmiluk national park, Australia on September 20, 2017. (Photo by Glenn Campbell/AAP)

Girls hold hands as they help each other wade through a flooded street after the passing of Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti, Thursday, October 6, 2016. Two days after the storm rampaged across the country's remote southwestern peninsula, authorities and aid workers still lack a clear picture of what they fear is the country's biggest disaster in years. (Photo by Dieu Nalio Chery/AP Photo)

Cambodian motorcyclists drive near a double rainbow, following the conclusion of a ceasefire deal between Cambodia and Thailand, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on July 29, 2025. (Photo by Daniel Ceng/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“Himalayan Dog”. This dog just appeared out of nowhere and followed us for an entire week during our trekking trip in the Himalayan outback. He always used to sleep in front of our tent and guarded us in the nights. When I decided to get up at 4 a.m. to climb the next 5000 m peak for sunrise he accompanied me as well. On the top he was sitting for the entire 30 minutes on this place looking straight into the countryside. Photo location: Ladakh, India. (Photo and caption by Sebastian Wahlhuetter/National Geographic Photo Contest)

Two men dressed as the Statue of Liberty look for tourists to pose with them for pictures in exchange for donations in New York's Times Square on January 20, 2015. (Photo by Jewel Samad/AFP Photo)

“Fly cap for a vine snake”. A fly lands on the head of a vine snake in the Choco of Colombia. (Photo and caption by Robin Moore/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

ATTENTION! All 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.