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)

Norway's Karsten Warholm celebrates winning the men's 400m hurdles at the Diamond League in London, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Boyers/Action Images via Reuters)

Alejandro Ccasa prays after waiting three days next to an empty oxygen tank for his uncle who has COVID-19 outside a refill shop where he is the first in line before it opens in Callao, Peru, early Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Ccasa said his family has one large tank and it gives about four hours of oxygen therapy. (Photo by Martin Mejia/AP Photo)

A woman rides the world's longest urban zip line, with a speed of up to 80 kilometers per hour on a one kilometer run from 170 meter to ground level, in the Marina district of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, December 5, 2017. (Photo by Kamran Jebreili/AP Photo)

Two men look at the sea while taking part in the annual New Year's dive into the North Sea in Scheveningen, Netherlands on January 1, 2020. (Photo by Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters)

The granddaughter of one of the family members cries after the eviction from their home in El Raval neighbourhood, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Barcelona, Spain, May 12, 2021. (Photo by Nacho Doce/Reuters)

Wounded women arrive at a hospital for treatment after two blasts, which killed at least five and wounded a dozen, outside the airport in Kabul on August 26, 2021. (Photo by Wakil Kohsar/AFP Photo)

Circus performer from the Association of Circus Proprietors on Whitehall, London, Britain, 07 July 2020. The association handed a petition to Downing Street to ask British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to allow circuses to reopen. (Photo by Will Oliver/EPA/EFE)