Nat Geo - amazing

The Great Glen

Photo and caption by Angus Taylor

While driving through the Great Glen, the clouds broke and a few rays of sunshine hit the ground, revealing the history and majesty of possibly one of the UK's most spectacular landscapes.

The Last of His Kind

Photo and caption by Jody MacDonald

Rajan is the last ocean swimming elephant on earth. Initially trained using very cruel methods to log the Andaman Islands, he was forced to swim hauling massive loads. At 60 years he is the last of the group to survive. Now retired, he spends his time with his caretaker and enjoys swimming and walking through the forests he once logged. He is truly the last of his kind.

Microburst and Duststorm

Photo and caption by Nick Moir

In the days leading up to the devastating bushfires in 2009 in SE Australia , fast moving thunderstorms created havoc by dropping lightning and creating "microbursts" powerful downdraft winds which wipped up fires and duststorms. Here a storm creates and duststorm near the town of Temora

Morning Light at Deadvlei

Photo and caption by Bill Young

Centuries-dead camelthorn trees stand sentinel in a dry pan, surrounded by huge red sand dunes.

Frozen Lake of Campotosto

Photo and caption by vincenzo mazza

This is the lake of Campotosto in Abruzzi, Italy. The mountains in the background are part of the Gran Sasso d'Italia mountain range, the higest mountains in the center of Italy. This image would show the beautiful wilderness that surround the city of l'Aquila, shocked by a dramatic heart quake less than two years ago.

Tjörvafell, Hnausapollur - Iceland

Photo and caption by Rasmus Hartikainen

Looking down from the top of a hill one can see the harsh, yet surprisingly lush, volcanic landscape of Iceland.

The Grandstand

Photo and caption by Alison Domzalski

Joshua trees and jackrabbits were encountered on the 4x4 adventures to the Panamint region of Death Valley National Park. To catch a swiftly setting sun on the Racetrack playa, we ran to its outer edges. Looking back towards Ubehebe peak, I was then transported to an unearthly planet. My eyes were drawn to that strange rock island in the middle of the dry and cracked lakebed--behold, the Grandstand.