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 flamingo appears to be stepping on the ducks heads in Dubai. (Photo by Qaderi Sami/Caters News Agency)





A Cheetah catches an impala in mid air n the Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa. (Photo by Deon Hoon/Caters News Agency)





Victory salute from the summit in Orkney. (Photo by Dave Cuthbertson/Caters News Agency)





Two humpback whales leap out of the water in perfect mirrored synronisation around the French Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Sylvain Girardot/Caters News Agency)





The untouched caves, in Shropshire, apparently date back 700 years when they were used by the Knights Templar. (Photo by Michael Scott/Caters News Agency)





The owl in flight in Canada. (Photo by Sue Dougherty/Caters News Agency)





The two lion cubs singing their hearts out at Antelope park in Zimbabwe. (Photo by David Jenkins/Caters News Agency)





Base jumpers in Norway. (Photo by Caters News Agency)





Two oblivious tourists in a Kayak miss the spectacular whales submerging behind them in Monterey Bay, California. (Photo by Jodi Frediani/Caters News Agency)





The Seal grabs the camera in Farne Islands, off the coast of Northumberland. (Photo by Frogfish Photography/Caters News Agency)





Matthieu with gorilla Matabishi at the Senkwekwe Mountain Gorilla Orphanage in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Photo by Nelis Wolmarans/Caters News Agency)





Richard the unusually photogenic Gorilla from Prague Zoo. (Photo by Prauge Zoo/Caters News Agency)





The bear playing with seagulls in Kurlie Lake, Kamchatka Island in Russia. (Photo by Rosh Kumar/Caters News Agency)





Luiz Fernando, from Brazil, climbed the 842 meter drop at Pedra da Gvea. (Photo by Luiz Fernando/Caters News Agency)





Paul Zizka night climbing at Athabasca Glacier in the Canadian Rockies as the ISS in orbit in the background. (Photo by Paul Zizka/Caters News Agency)





The plane flys through the rainbow in Wales. (Photo by Caters News Agency)





A 20 foot (six meters) crocodile jumps out of the water in the Northern Territorys Adelaide River, Australia. (Photo by Rhys Crowley/Caters News Agency)





Lenoble, 25 walks a slackline between two cable cars on the mountain of Moleson in Switzerland. (Photo by Martin Knobel/Caters News Agency)





Julio captured the shocking moment eight peckish pelicans all battled over the same tiny carp in Greece, they are being fed by local fisherman as the lake has frozen over for the first time in over ten years and has meant many of the pelicans have died due to starvation. (Photo by Julio Lozano/Caters News Agency)





Sam Favret skiing on an ice wall. (Photo by Jeremy Bernard/Caters News Agency)