Fireworks explode over Elizabeth Tower housing the Big Ben clock in London. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press)

Javanese people pray before rituals night carnival “1st Suro” (Javanese calender) during Islamic New Year celebrations at Kasunanan Palace on November 14, 2012 in Solo City, Central Java, Indonesia. Javanese will celebrate the national holiday with ceremonies and rituals marking the 1434th Islamic New Year's Eve or “1st Suro”. The parade started from Keraton Kasunanan and is headed by a group of albino buffaloes, known as Kebo Bule. Local people believe that the parade of Heirlooms and Kebo Bule will bring them a better life. (Photo by Ulet Ifansasti)

Fireworks and light effects illuminate the night sky from the Taipei 101 skyscraper during New Year's Eve celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, 01 January 2019. (Photo by Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Performers eat their lunch before the start of the New Year's Day Parade in London, January 1, 2016. (Photo by Kevin Coombs/Reuters)

New Year's Eve fireworks display illuminates the sky over the Dom Tower on January 01, 2012 in Utrecht, Netherlands. The Dom tower is with 112.5 metres high the tallest church tower of the Netherlands. Built in Gothic-style, the tower, part of the Cathedral of Saint Martin, is the symbol of the city of Utrecht. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

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 Tibetan man stirs butter tea made for the arriving guest during the function organised to mark Losar or the Tibetan New Year at a Tibetan Refugee Camp in Lalitpur February 19, 2015. Tibetans across the world marked the arrival of the New Year with prayers and festivities. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)

Members of a Chinese opera take a selfie before a performance at a shopping mall ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, February 4, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)