A climber tackles an exceptionally difficult, F8c graded, route on a big overhang at the cliffs of Margalef, underneath Montsant, near Lleida and Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain, Europe

The colors of dawn invading the smooth surface of Lago Bianco exceptionally icy, Bernina Pass, Graubunden, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Europe

Flooded salt marsh during an exceptionally high tide near Cark in Cartmell on Morecambe Bay, Cumbria, UK.

Adult bull Orca - also called Killer Whale - (Orcinus orca) surfacing in the calm waters of Southeast Alaska, USA. Note the exceptionally tall dorsal fin - the field diagnostic for a mature male Orca.

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands. This is the smallest yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin in the genus Eudyptes. It reaches a length of 45-58 cm (18-23 in) and typically weighs 2-3.4 kg (4.4-7.5 lb), although there are records of exceptionally large rockhoppers weighing 5 kg (11 lbs). Their common name refers to the fact that unlike many other penguins which negotiate obstacles by sliding on their bellies or by awkward climbing using their flipper-like wings as aid, Rockhoppers will try to jump over boulders and across cracks. This behavior is by no means unique to this species however - at least the other "crested" penguins of the genus Eudyptes hop around rocks too. Southern Rockhopper Penguins have a global population of roughly 1 million pairs, perhaps a bit more. About two-thirds of the global population belongs to E. c. chrysocome which breeds on the Falkland Islands and on islands off Argentina and southern Chile. The Southern Rockhopper Penguin is classified as Vulnerable species by the IUCN.

Night sky filled with stars over snow-capped mountains and a calm lake, with clouds and reflections creating a serene atmosphere, Torres Del Paine, Patagonia

Hochsauerland

Lago Pehoe, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile, South America

Foehn clouds over the Torres, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile, South America

Entrance sign to Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile, South America

Lagunas Melizas, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile, South America

Guanaco herd at Lagunas Melizas, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile, South America

View over Lago Paine to the Cuernos and Torres del Paine, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile, South America

Log cabins at the entrance to Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile, South America

Signpost Cuernos and Chileno, Mirador Las Torres, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile, South America

Mountaineers at the Mirador de las Torres, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile, South America

View from the Mirador de las Torres, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile, South America

Avenue of cypress trees (Cupressus sempervirens) near Siena, Tuscany, Italy, Europe

Avenue of cypress trees (Cupressus sempervirens) near Siena, Tuscany, Italy, Europe

Aerial view of a single courtyard with an avenue of columnar cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens) and hills near Siena, Tuscany, Italy, Europe

Mount Cerro Torre, Laguna Torre Trail, El Chaltén, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, South America