http://gallery.pictopia.com/providerasset/1/pictopia_logo.pnghttp://gallery.pictopia.com/providerasset/1/pictopia_logo.pnghttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/2012-02-06T19:17:27Z2012-02-06T19:17:27ZMeta Penca/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9496774/

Mimmi the brown bear shows her flair for flexibility during an afternoon stretch at the Antari Zoo. Despite intense summer heat, the lively resident lifted paws for minutes at a time in poses learned from her mother.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9496774&size=128&m=1328584647.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9496774&size=128&m=1328584647.01397921http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9496774/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2012-02-01T04:00:04ZZig Kochhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:2969528/

Brazil—Butterflies spatter the shoreline of the Juruena River in Brazil’s new 4.7-million-acre (2 million hectares) Juruena National Park.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:2969528&size=128&m=1328097604.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:2969528&size=128&m=1328097604.01111952http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:2969528/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2012-02-01T04:00:03ZNational Geographic Image Collection/Christine and Michel Denis-Huothttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3558831/

A group of African lions eating a wildebeest.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3558831&size=128&m=1328097603.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3558831&size=128&m=1328097603.01133743http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3558831/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2012-02-01T04:00:03ZJim Lo Scalzo - National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9668101/

In windswept Iowa, ears of mature corn dry ahead of the autumn harvest.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9668101&size=128&m=1328097603.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9668101&size=128&m=1328097603.01430329http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9668101/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2012-02-01T04:00:03ZCesare Naldi/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8900843/

Nazroo, a Mahout (elephant driver), takes his elephant, Rajan, out in the waters of the Andaman Sea in front of Radha Nagar Beach in Havelock, Andaman Islands.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8900843&size=128&m=1328097603.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8900843&size=128&m=1328097603.0Swimming Elephanthttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8900843/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2012-02-01T04:00:03ZSigurdur Hrafn Stefnissonhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9066866/

Volcanic eruption and lightening in the ash plume in Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9066866&size=128&m=1328097603.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9066866&size=128&m=1328097603.01318336http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9066866/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2012-01-29T11:36:55ZAlex Saberi- National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9707313/

A lone mute swan stretches its wings in Richmond Park.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9707313&size=128&m=1327865815.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9707313&size=128&m=1327865815.01435350http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9707313/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2012-01-19T13:59:09ZMagnus Lundgren/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8697937/

Near the Azores, just below the sunlit Atlantic surface, sperm whales float in vertical repose. Scientists think "drift dives" are a form of communal slumber. This specicies may sleep the least of any mammal.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8697937&size=128&m=1327010349.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8697937&size=128&m=1327010349.01279771http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8697937/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-12-29T13:23:33ZStefan Austermuhle/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8932472/

Peru. Forty miles southeast of Lima, against a winter tableau of wave, rock, and sky, four bottlenose dolphins vault in sync through the shallows. Fed by the nutrient-rich Peru Current, these coastal waters teem with marine life.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8932472&size=128&m=1325193813.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8932472&size=128&m=1325193813.01286703http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8932472/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-12-14T10:00:08ZAnnie Griffiths/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3319545/

A swimmer stands at the lip of a hidden pool at Victoria Falls.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3319545&size=128&m=1323885608.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3319545&size=128&m=1323885608.01119340http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3319545/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-12-03T07:26:30ZMonica Szczupiderhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8590445/

At Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Centre, Dorothy passed away amongst her adopted family of chimpanzees. Here, it is evident that they are mourning her.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8590445&size=128&m=1322925990.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8590445&size=128&m=1322925990.01266374http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8590445/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-11-11T17:19:12ZCharles Krebs/National Geographichttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8799913/

The iridescent wing scales of a sunset moth.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8799913&size=128&m=1321060752.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8799913&size=128&m=1321060752.01258353http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8799913/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-11-06T12:10:30ZSteve Irvinehttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9565062/

Fluttering wings leave lacy trails as moths beat their way to a floodlight on a rural Ontario lawn.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9565062&size=128&m=1320610230.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9565062&size=128&m=1320610230.01413454http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9565062/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-10-29T07:45:00ZRoger Snider/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8669100/

2 "art trucks" from the "Utamarokai" truck club light up at night in the rain during the annual truck show at the end of Golden Week.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8669100&size=128&m=1319899500.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8669100&size=128&m=1319899500.01264697http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8669100/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-10-23T12:02:26ZTim Flach/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8010352/

The fetus of a foal preserved in a jar.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8010352&size=128&m=1319396546.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8010352&size=128&m=1319396546.01202103http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8010352/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-10-22T16:18:38ZJose Cardonahttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9565061/

A green turtle surfacing at a Maui aquarium.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9565061&size=128&m=1319325518.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9565061&size=128&m=1319325518.01413453http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9565061/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-08-22T11:58:04ZJak Wonderly - National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9635149/

An albino aligator in an aquarium.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9635149&size=128&m=1314039484.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9635149&size=128&m=1314039484.01426064http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9635149/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-08-22T11:58:04ZDmitry Martov - National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9635148/

A child plays in the sunshine and laundry at a boarding school.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9635148&size=128&m=1314039484.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9635148&size=128&m=1314039484.01426063http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9635148/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-08-19T13:32:57ZStephanie Lane/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8806315/

A white lotus in its early stage of blooming.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8806315&size=128&m=1313785977.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8806315&size=128&m=1313785977.01282876http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8806315/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-08-16T12:55:11ZJordi Busque/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:5096553/

The moon illuminates clouds on Mount Fitz Roy.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:5096553&size=128&m=1313524511.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:5096553&size=128&m=1313524511.01171866http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:5096553/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-08-16T12:55:09ZSteve Raymer/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:266947/

Aerial View of the Mount St. Helens crater taken after the eruption.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:266947&size=128&m=1313524509.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:266947&size=128&m=1313524509.0122531http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:266947/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-08-16T12:55:09ZManu San Felix/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:5450136/

Snorkelers surround a whale shark.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:5450136&size=128&m=1313524509.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:5450136&size=128&m=1313524509.01185873http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:5450136/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-08-13T15:16:11ZLaurent Mercey/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9066810/

Its bright pouch agape and two-tone wings spanning perhaps ten feet, a great white pelican in Walvis Bay sets its sights on a fish breakfast. These migratory birds are found in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9066810&size=128&m=1313273771.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9066810&size=128&m=1313273771.01314658http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9066810/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-07-13T11:57:21ZNational Geographic Image Collection/Paul Nicklenhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:4419194/

Arctic Ocean — The 22-ton stainless steel propellers on the icebreaker Louis S. St-Laurent pause in their work pushing the Canadian vessel through frozen waters—allowing a diver to venture near.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:4419194&size=128&m=1310583441.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:4419194&size=128&m=1310583441.01163627http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:4419194/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-05-09T14:06:41ZPete Barrett/National Geographic Image Collectionhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9448943/

A Pacific walrus rescued from the Alaska coast, lingers underwater at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9448943&size=128&m=1304975201.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9448943&size=128&m=1304975201.01374843http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9448943/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-04-23T06:10:53ZNational Geographic Image Collection/Konrad Wothehttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3087465/

Three gray herons plus one fish equals a flapping squabble over property rights on the Baltic Sea island of Usedom. They might be wiser to look inland for dinner: Pollution has made some local fish unsafe to eat.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3087465&size=128&m=1303564253.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3087465&size=128&m=1303564253.01123258http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3087465/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2011-02-18T09:00:29Zhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9411362/

A pollen-producing structure from a thale cress glows under a microscope.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9411362&size=128&m=1298048429.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:9411362&size=128&m=1298048429.01364249http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:9411362/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2010-07-14T09:13:41ZNational Geographic Image Collection/Jeff Kroezehttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3505005/

A long exposure on a breezy, starry night at a wind farm.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3505005&size=128&m=1279124021.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3505005&size=128&m=1279124021.01133740http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3505005/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2010-06-05T20:12:13ZNational Geographic Image Collection/Viktor Sykorahttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3087464/

It takes a microscope to make a handful of carrot seeds look like a swarm of bristling space invaders. There are about 450,000 of these Daucus carota seeds in a single pound.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3087464&size=128&m=1275793933.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3087464&size=128&m=1275793933.01123257http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3087464/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2010-04-20T12:13:11Zhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8900844///pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8900844&size=128&m=1271790791.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:8900844&size=128&m=1271790791.01308282http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:8900844/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2009-12-09T19:51:28Zhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3896850/

Eggs are visible in a transparent female glass frog.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3896850&size=128&m=1260417088.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3896850&size=128&m=1260417088.01137054http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3896850/visions of earthNational Geographic/Visions of Earth2009-09-16T04:07:49ZNational Geographic Image Collection/Juhani Kosonenhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3258528/

Finland. A mosquito and dew drops on a pane of glass.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3258528&size=128&m=1253099269.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3258528&size=128&m=1253099269.01095602http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3258528/National Geographic/Visions of Earth2009-02-27T20:14:11ZNational Geographic Image Collection/Magnus Elanderhttp://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3319535/

A great gray owl pounces on a vole and carries it away.

//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3319535&size=128&m=1235794451.0//pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=318&ptp_photo_id=natgeo:3319535&size=128&m=1235794451.01130288http://gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/gallery/syn:syn:106757/photo/syn:3319535/National Geographic/Visions of Earth