Floating on clear deep water and reflections near the cave entrance. Visitors can either bring their own kayaks or rent boats from the local community to paddle deep inside the cave and marvel at its wonders on March 2015 at Tham Khoun Ex, Laos. Tham Khoun Xe, commonly known as the Xe Bang Fai River Cave, in Laos, has over 15km of passages filled with awe-inspiring views and wide expanses of water. Photographer, John Spies, 59, captured scenes from the entrances of the huge underground river passages, intricate cave formations and views from a passage high above the water. The cave is formed by the Xe Bang Fai river, a major tributary of the Mekong and in the dry season can be traversed using inflatable kayaks. (Photo by John Spies/Barcroft Media/ABACAPress)

Rows of workers shelter under umbrellas from the scorching heat as they painstakingly sort through a red carpet of millions of chilli peppers in Bogra, Bangladesh on October 3, 2023. They sort the rotten and broken chilli peppers out to separate the poor quality ones which won't sell. In a line, the pickers who are paid less than £3 for a 10-hour shift slowly move forward with their baskets to separate the bad from the good after the chilies have been dried in the sun for a week. (Photo by Joy Saha/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Filipinos wade through floodwaters along a road in Manila, Philippines, 22 August 2025. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on 22 August raised its alert level and warned residents of flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous communities brought by a storm. The government weather bureau said a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 01 is raised over 17 areas due to Tropical Depression “Isang”, which made landfall over the Aurora province. (Photo by Francis R. Malasig/EPA)

Tourists standing near the sea shore are hit by a wave, which surged past a barrier under the influence of Typhoon Chan-hom, in Qingdao, Shandong province, China, July 12, 2015. One of the most powerful typhoons to strike eastern China in decades disrupted air, rail and sea transport on Saturday after forcing the evacuation of more than a million people from the provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu, state media reported. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

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)

Naked activists take part in a protest against fur trade, called by international non profit animal rights organisation AnimaNaturalis, in Barcelona, on December 1, 2019, on the eve of the opening of the UN Climate Change Conference COP25. (Photo by Pau Barrena/AFP Photo)

A seller dressed as Snegurochka (The Snow Maiden) shows Christmas toys at the Christmas decorations set in the Moscow GUM State Department store in Moscow, Russia in Moscow, Russia, Monday, December 16, 2019. (Photo by Pavel Golovkin/AP Photo)

Waves batter the North Devon coast at Ilfracombe, UK on August 23, 2024, as Storm Lilian hits the UK and the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning. (Photo by Mark Passmore Photography)