Beautiful ornate carvings in the Adalaj stepwell, initiated by Rana Veer Singh in 1498 and completed by his widow Rudabai in 1499. It has 344 steps in total and includes both Hindu and Jain influences.

Ornately carved third storey level of the Adalaj stepwell, initiated by Rana Veer Singh in 1498 and completed by his widow Rudabai in 1499. It has 344 steps in total and includes both Hindu and Jain influences.

Beautiful ornate carvings in the Adalaj stepwell, initiated by Rana Veer Singh in 1498 and completed by his widow Rudabai in 1499. It has 344 steps in total and includes both Hindu and Jain influences.

Al Hamra Tower, completed in 2011 includes a luxury business and shopping center, Kuwait City, Kuwait, Middle East

Al Hamra Tower, completed in 2011 includes a luxury business and shopping center, Kuwait City, Kuwait, Middle East

A picturesque coastal town at night with a starry sky and the Milky Way visible. The scene includes buildings, shops, and a beach area with vehicles parked.

Superbly carved intricate sculptures adorn the existed Konark Sun Temple's exterior. these include deities, floral and geometric patterns, dancers.musicians, elephants, birds,mythical creatures and...lovers in erotic poses.

Superbly carved intricate sculptures adorn the existed Konark Sun Temple's exterior. these include deities, floral and geometric patterns, dancers.musicians, elephants, birds,mythical creatures and...lovers in erotic poses.

Superbly carved intricate sculptures adorn the existed Konark Sun Temple's exterior. these include deities, floral and geometric patterns, dancers.musicians, elephants, birds,mythical creatures and...lovers in erotic poses.

Superbly carved intricate sculptures adorn the existed Konark Sun Temple's exterior. these include deities, floral and geometric patterns, dancers.musicians, elephants, birds,mythical creatures and...lovers in erotic poses.

Superbly carved intricate sculptures adorn the existed Konark Sun Temple's exterior. these include deities, floral and geometric patterns, dancers.musicians, elephants, birds,mythical creatures and...lovers in erotic poses.

A scenic beach view featuring golden sand, gentle waves, and a clear blue sky with fluffy clouds. In the background, there are buildings on a hillside, and a few people enjoying the beach. The foreground includes rocks and a lifeguard flag.

The Block of Discord on Passeig de Gracia includes Casa Amatller, designed by Puig i Cadafalch, and Casa Battlo, by Gaudi, Eixample neighborhood, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, Europe

Hungry Bay, part of the Hungry Bay Nature Reserve which includes the largest mangrove coastal swamp on the island, Paget Parish, Bermuda, North Atlantic, North America

Ouray County Courthouse dating from 1888 on 4th Street and 6th Avenue, built during the mining boom period, includes offices, courtroom, sheriff's quarters, jail and a county art collection, Ouray, Colorado, United States of America (U.S.A.), North America

A bustling shopping mall with multiple levels, featuring various retail stores and shoppers. The architecture includes a glass roof and open walkways, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

CROSSES IN THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE AT ST MARGARET'S CHURCH, WESTMINSTER, LONDON INCLUDE MANY FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE DISASTER.

Bottom detail of wall painting which includes 28 Buddhas in Payathonzu Temple, dating from the 13th century, Bagan (Pagan), Minnanthu, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Indonesia a kindergarten in banda aceh which lost many of children to tsunami, been rebuilt. schools director halimah anwar bustam (seen here in foreground) describes horrors suffered: area kids came from completely flattened by waves. On that fateful sunday children were in their homes, or many were already on beach having. So many died that morning. It devastating. Only we getting things back together, very grateful to helping with reconstruction of damaged building. staff give up a portion of their (already) salaries to sponsor poor children from outlying villages to come to school. structure includes offices staff, a library, prayer room wheelchair accessible classroom.__ Photograph taken in banda aceh, -december 2006, 2 years after tsunami of december 26th 2004 devasted much of coastal region. Taken to illustrate reconstruction work projects of (catholic relief services) of sponsored photo tour

CAMBODIA Village primary school. Inclusive education: CRS works with local education authorities to include children with physical disabilities in regular classrooms. Teachers will receive special training. Ang Soukliang primary school, Prey Neang Puon village, Chum Reas Pen commune, Sam Roang District, Takeo Province. PHOTO by Sean Sprague

CAMBODIA Village primary school. Inclusive education: CRS works with local education authorities to include children with physical disabilities in regular classrooms. Teachers will receive special training. Ang Soukliang primary school, Prey Neang Puon village, Chum Reas Pen commune, Sam Roang District, Takeo Province. PHOTO by Sean Sprague

CAMBODIA Village primary school. Inclusive education: CRS works with local education authorities to include children with physical disabilities in regular classrooms. Teachers will receive special training. Ang Soukliang primary school, Prey Neang Puon village, Chum Reas Pen commune, Sam Roang District, Takeo Province. PHOTO by Sean Sprague

CAMBODIA Village primary school. Inclusive education: CRS works with local education authorities to include children with physical disabilities in regular classrooms. Teachers will receive special training. Ang Soukliang primary school, Prey Neang Puon village, Chum Reas Pen commune, Sam Roang District, Takeo Province. PHOTO by Sean Sprague

CAMBODIA Village primary school. Inclusive education: CRS works with local education authorities to include children with physical disabilities in regular classrooms. Teachers will receive special training. Ang Soukliang primary school, Prey Neang Puon village, Chum Reas Pen commune, Sam Roang District, Takeo Province. PHOTO by Sean Sprague

Young Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) leaping in the midriff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico. Note: other common names include Maha Mahi (Hawaiian) and Dorado (Spanish).

Young Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) leaping in the midriff region of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico. Note: other common names include Maha Mahi (Hawaiian) and Dorado (Spanish).

Domestic duties in Uganda include finding wood for burning and domestic improvements. Here a group of African women are carrying the load back on their heads. Gulu Town, Uganda, East Africa

Chinese people sit down for a meal in a restaurant which includes several dishes of dog meat, China, Asia

Chinese people sit down for a meal in a restaurant which includes several dishes of dog meat, China, Asia

The large star-forming region of IC 1396 in Cepheus, taken September 5, 2018 from home in southern Alberta. The wide field includes the bright orange star Mu Cephei, or Herschel's Garnet Star, at top. The Elephant Trunk Nebula is at centre. North is at top.

The area of the Rosette Nebula (bottom) and Christmas Tree Cluster (top) in Monoceros with the Fornax Lightrack tracker and 200mm lens + Canon 5D MkII. The nebulosity at top includes the Cone Nebula.

Other participants include adults and children in various dress which include altar boys, Nazarenes,

The False Comet Cluster area of southern Scorpius, which includes the open cluster NGC 6231 and emission nebula IC 4628, and open cluster NGC 6242 at top. This is a superb binocular field.

M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, with its companion galaxies, M32 (below) and M110 (aka NGC 205, above), framed to include the blue star Nu Andromedae at left, usually used as the star hopping guide star to find M31.

Satellite view of Komodo Island, Indonesia. The image shows the whole Komodo National Park that includes the three islands Komodo, Padar and Rinca. This image was compiled from data acquired by Landsat satellites.

Nordkirchen Castle, largest moated castle in Westphalia, which includes, among others, the finance university North Rhine-Westphalia, Nordkirchen, Muensterland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Israel, Tel Aviv financial business district skyline includes shopping malls and high tech offices, Asia

Bibliotheque Mazarine in Paris. Architectural facade details of the historical building which includes the Academy of Fine Arts and Institute of France. Old library outdoors view from Ponts des Arts

Nordkirchen Castle, largest moated castle in Westphalia, which includes, among others, the finance university North Rhine-Westphalia, Nordkirchen, Muensterland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Nordkirchen Castle, largest moated castle in Westphalia, which includes, among others, the finance university North Rhine-Westphalia, Nordkirchen, Muensterland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Nordkirchen Castle, largest moated castle in Westphalia, which includes, among others, the finance university North Rhine-Westphalia, Nordkirchen, Muensterland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

This panel of prehistoric petroglyphs includes a well-endowed Kokopelli, a diety of fertility, Sand Island, near Bluff, Utah.

This panel of prehistoric petroglyphs includes a well-endowed Kokopelli, a diety of fertility, Sand Island, near Bluff, Utah.

Runners cross a river in the hardrock 100. Billed as the toughest running race in America by many, the Hardrock 100 covers 100 miles and includes climbing a total of nearly 30,000 feet (equivilent to climbing Everest). The race begins and ends in Silverton, Colorado and climbs several 13,000 foot passes and one 14,000 foot summit.

Crews work carefully, inflating their hot air balloons for launch. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico each year drawing in participants and spectators from across the globe. Highlights include an early morning dawn patrol, followed by mass ascencion of aircraft and an evening glow which all take place at the Balloon Fiesta Park throughout the week long event.

Hot air balloons lift skyward. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico each year drawing in participants and spectators from across the globe. Highlights include an early morning dawn patrol, followed by mass ascencion of aircraft and an evening glow which all take place at the Balloon Fiesta Park throughout the week long event.

Hot air balloons lift skyward. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico each year drawing in participants and spectators from across the globe. Highlights include an early morning dawn patrol, followed by mass ascencion of aircraft and an evening glow which all take place at the Balloon Fiesta Park throughout the week long event.

Hot air balloons lift skyward. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico each year drawing in participants and spectators from across the globe. Highlights include an early morning dawn patrol, followed by mass ascencion of aircraft and an evening glow which all take place at the Balloon Fiesta Park throughout the week long event.

Hot air balloons lift skyward. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico each year drawing in participants and spectators from across the globe. Highlights include an early morning dawn patrol, followed by mass ascencion of aircraft and an evening glow which all take place at the Balloon Fiesta Park throughout the week long event.

Hot air balloons lift skyward. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico each year drawing in participants and spectators from across the globe. Highlights include an early morning dawn patrol, followed by mass ascencion of aircraft and an evening glow which all take place at the Balloon Fiesta Park throughout the week long event.

Hot air balloons lift skyward. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico each year drawing in participants and spectators from across the globe. Highlights include an early morning dawn patrol, followed by mass ascencion of aircraft and an evening glow which all take place at the Balloon Fiesta Park throughout the week long event.

Fireworks light the night sky. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico each year drawing in participants and spectators from across the globe. Highlights include an early morning dawn patrol, followed by mass ascencion of aircraft and an evening glow which all take place at the Balloon Fiesta Park throughout the week long event.

Crews work carefully, inflating their hot air balloons for launch. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico each year drawing in participants and spectators from across the globe. Highlights include an early morning dawn patrol, followed by mass ascencion of aircraft and an evening glow which all take place at the Balloon Fiesta Park throughout the week long event.

Frederiksted, St. Croix: Bedroom window detail of the main estate house at Estate Whim. Now a museum, this restored sugar and rum estate traces its Danish beginnings to 1733-35. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is furnished to the 1810 era with outbuildings that include a cookhouse, an earlier windmill, and the remains of a sugar factory.

Railay Beach is a popular tourist destination near Krabi, Thailand on the Andaman Sea. Accessible only by boat, the beach includes a number of high end resorts for tourists from around the world.

Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead altar at the Regional Museum of Michoacun in Morelia. These altars usually have the Christian cross, pictures of deceased persons, and scores of candles. Ofrendas (offerings) usually include foods such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto (bread of the dead), sugar skulls and beverages such as atole., Michoacun, Mexico

Tara Oceans Expeditions - May 2011. Tara with deployed plancton nets. On "station", the boat is drifting without engine or sails. Tara Oceans, a unique expedition: Tara Oceans is the very first attempt to make a global study of marine plankton, a form of sea life that includes organisms as small as viruses and bacterias, and as big as medusas. Our goal is to better understand planktonic ecosystems by exploring the countless species, learning about interactions among them and with their environment. Marine plankton is the only ecosystem that is almost continuous over the surface of the Earth. Studying plankton is like taking the pulse of our planet. Recently, scientists have discovered the great importance of plankton for the climate: populations of plankton are affected very rapidly by variations in climate. But in turn they can influence the climate by modifying the absorption of carbon. In a context of rapid physico-chemical changes, for example the acidification observed today in the world's oceans, it is urgent to understand and predict the evolution of these particular ecosystems. Finally, plankton is an astonishing way of going back in time ? a prime source of fossils. Over the eons, plankton has created several hundred meters of sediment on the ocean floors. This allows us to go back in time, to the first oceans on Earth, and better understand the history of our biosphere. More than 12 fields of research are involved in the project, which will bring together an international team of oceanographers, ecologists, biologists, geneticists, and physicists from prestigious laboratories headed by Eric Karsenti of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. Galapagos