Planet Earth In All Its Glory: Best Of The National Geographic Photo Contest 2015

An arctic fox in frozen willows.

The 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest attracts entries from photographers from all over the world.

The contest is divided into three categories, people, places and nature. 

Below are some of the beautiful photos from the contestants – please click the photos for larger images:

Breathtaking view from Schwarzstockli (2293m) over this spectacular natural border of cantons of Glarus and St. Gallen, Switzerland, as seen on an Autumn weekend trek in early October 2015. All after being chased, caught up and left behind by that glorious mist that hopped from one valley to another, leaving me with this frame to awe at. The gathering of clouds.

A warm and peaceful sunset above the fog at Mount Tamalpais, Northern California.

A line of elephants had just crossed the Chobe River on a hot day. As they relaxed by flicking cool sand on their backs, they were very aware to hide the youngest in the center of their grouping. For one moment though, this little one disguised in sand got through to give us a quick hello.

A large, inquisitive and almost dangerously playful female Humpback whale calf measures me with her pectoral fin. This image was captured on a very wide fisheye lens, which doesnít quite show how close she really is. By measuring how close I am she can determine if her tail is going to come in contact with me as she swims past.

An arctic fox in frozen willows.

Mount Fuji creates two types of lenticular clouds. One is called Kasagumo (umbrella cloud) and appears on top of Fuji. The other is called Tsurushigumo and shows up in the lee. Fuji created a huge Tsurushigumo this morning and it became pink just before the sunrise.

I’ve loved watching wildlife documentaries since I was a kid. One of nature’s wonders that fascinated me the most was the annual return of Salmon to their birthplace for spawning…and the bears that live off of this phenomenon. To be able to see it happen in real life was just completely magical and struck a chord deep within. There were about 12 bears at the falls, but 6 that dominated the prime spots. It was peaceful between the bears as there was plenty of salmon to go around!

In Vinh Hy Bay, two women become lost in the fabric of a fishing net. That was just a random moment when I came to the fishing village to shoot the lifestyle of the fisherman. While the men do their fishing, their wives stay at home and do the errands. When we were there, the ladies were sewing the fishing net for a new fishing season.

Aerial shot was taken in Tongariro national park, New Zealand

In Photos: 2015 Geneva International Motor Show

This high-end version of the Model S is no less than the world’s highest-performance electric car, as its combined output of 700hp takes it to a top speed of 250km/h and from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.4 seconds.

The 2015 Geneva International Motor Show is open from March 5, 2015 to March 15, 2015.

This great motor show is held at the Palexpo Arena in Geneva, Switzerland.

Below are some of the stunning cars at the motor show.

Please click the photos for larger images:

The Italian manufacturer unveiled its latest supercar coupe, the 488 GTB, powered by a turbocharged V8 for a top speed of over 330km/h. To be sold for €220,000 (around $241,300), the model goes from 0 to 100km/h in 3 seconds and from 0 to 200km/h in just 8.3 seconds.

The latest Lamborghini Aventador is not only more powerful but also lighter than its predecessor. As a result, the 750hp V12 enables top speeds of up to 350km/h and 0 to 100km/h acceleration in less than 3 seconds. Of course, this kind of performance comes at a price: over €320,000 (around $351,100).

Aston Martin’s new supercar has a chassis made primarily of carbon fiber and a 7-liter V12 engine with around 800hp, making it the most powerful vehicle in the brand’s history. Each of the 24 models to be produced will have a starting price of €2.5 million (around $2.7 million).

Among the most impressive cars in Geneva this week, the Koenigsegg Regera boasts a combined output of 1500hp (from three electric motors and a turbocharged V8) and 0 to 400km/h acceleration in just 20 seconds. This superlative model is produced in a limited edition of just 80 units.

McLaren staged the world premiere of its 675 LT in Geneva. As indicated by the name, the supercar has a 675hp V8 engine, which takes it from 0 to 100km/h in under 3 seconds. A total of 500 675 LTs will be produced and sold for over €300,000 each (around $329,100).

Making its European debut in Geneva, the Ford GT made a strong impression thanks to its twin turbo V6 EcoBoost with over 600hp, which is based on an engine developed for the race track. The supercar is slated to go on sale worldwide in 2016.

The next-generation Audi R8 has a 610hp V10, which enables top speeds of up to 330km/h and 0 to 100km/h acceleration in 3.2 seconds. The supercar also stands out for its laser headlights, available as an option. Audi also offers an electric version, the R8 e-tron.

This high-end version of the Model S is no less than the world’s highest-performance electric car, as its combined output of 700hp takes it to a top speed of 250km/h and from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.4 seconds.

44 Injured In Swiss Train Collision

BERLIN (AP) — At least 35 people were injured, five of them seriously, in a head-on collision of two trains in western Switzerland late Monday, police said. One person had yet to be recovered from the wreckage.

At least 44 people were injured when two commuter trains collided head-on near the station of Granges-pres-Marnand, about 8 km (5 miles) south of Payerne in Switzerland at around 6:45 p.m. on Monday evening, July 29, 2013.

5 of them were critically injured.

The trains were on a route between Payerne and Lausanne.

One locomotive’s driver was missing after the crash.

Authorities are still investigating the caused the crash.

This train accident came just days after 79 people were killed in a high-speed train derailment in Spain and 17 days after another train accident in France killing 6 people.

Please click the photos for larger images:

BERLIN (AP) — At least 35 people were injured, five of them seriously, in a head-on collision of two trains in western Switzerland late Monday, police said. One person had yet to be recovered from the wreckage.

BERLIN (AP) — At least 35 people were injured, five of them seriously, in a head-on collision of two trains in western Switzerland late Monday, police said. One person had yet to be recovered from the wreckage.

BERLIN (AP) — At least 35 people were injured, five of them seriously, in a head-on collision of two trains in western Switzerland late Monday, police said. One person had yet to be recovered from the wreckage.

BERLIN (AP) — At least 35 people were injured, five of them seriously, in a head-on collision of two trains in western Switzerland late Monday, police said. One person had yet to be recovered from the wreckage.

BERLIN (AP) — At least 35 people were injured, five of them seriously, in a head-on collision of two trains in western Switzerland late Monday, police said. One person had yet to be recovered from the wreckage.

BERLIN (AP) — At least 35 people were injured, five of them seriously, in a head-on collision of two trains in western Switzerland late Monday, police said. One person had yet to be recovered from the wreckage.

Photos And Videos: Worst Flood In Europe In 70 Years

Europe is now facing the worst floods in seventy years.

Flood waters rise across sections of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

At least eight people were killed and nine others were injured.

The city of Passau in southeast Germany was among the hardest-hit.

Here are some photos of the disaster …

(Please click the photos for larger images)

Members of the emergency services travel by boat along a flooded street in the centre of the Austrian town of Melk, about 100 km (62 miles) west of Vienna June 3, 2013. Torrential rain in Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper and Lower Austria caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT

A man stands on sand bags in the doorway of an electrical shop as he looks at flood water in the centre of the Bavarian town of Passau, about 200 km (124 miles) north-east of Munich June 3, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle (GERMANY – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

People stand on the roof of a building and look at a flooded street in the centre of the Bavarian town of Passau, about 200 km (124 miles) north-east of Munich June 3, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle (GERMANY – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

A traffic sign is seen surrounded by the flooded Berounka river on the outskirts of Prague June 3, 2013. The worst floods to hit the Czech Republic in a decade forced the evacuation of almost 2,700 people from low-lying areas while the rising water threatened Prague’s historic centre, forced school closures and disrupted public transport. REUTERS/David W Cerny (CZECH REPUBLIC – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT

A general view shows the flooded center of Passau, southern Germany, on Monday, June 3, 2013. Raging waters from three rivers have flooded large parts of the southeast German city following days of heavy rainfall in central Europe. A spokesman for the city’s crisis center said Monday that the situation was “extremely dramatic” and waters are expected to rise further by midday to their level highest in 70 years. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

A man walks through flood water in a street in the centre of the Bavarian town of Passau, about 200 km (124 miles) north-east of Munich June 3, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle (GERMANY – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

A man stands on sand bags in the doorway of an electrical shop as he looks at flood water in the centre of the Bavarian town of Passau, about 200 km (124 miles) north-east of Munich June 3, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle (GERMANY – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

A small truck, partially submerged by the water from the rising Vltava river, is seen in a park in central Prague June 3, 2013. Volunteers piled up sandbags to keep a swollen river from overwhelming the Czech capital’s historic centre on Monday after floods across central Europe forced factories to close, drove thousands from their homes and killed at least seven people. REUTERS/David W Cerny (CZECH REPUBLIC – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

Rescue workers pull a rubber dinghy next to a damaged car in the flooded western Austrian village of Koessen June 3, 2013. Torrential rain caused widespread flooding and landslides across Austria on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler (AUSTRIA – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

A man stands next to a damaged car after heavy rainfall flooded the western Austrian village of Koessen June 3, 2013. Torrential rain caused widespread flooding and landslides across Austria on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler (AUSTRIA – Tags: ENVIRONMENT DISASTER)

A general view of the flooded Berounka river is seen on the outskirts of Prague June 3, 2013. The worst floods to hit the Czech Republic in a decade forced the evacuation of almost 2,700 people from low-lying areas while the rising water threatened Prague’s historic centre, forced school closures and disrupted public transport. REUTERS/David W Cerny (CZECH REPUBLIC – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

A man looks at flood water from the upstairs window of a house in the centre of the Bavarian town of Passau, about 200 km (124 miles) north-east of Munich June 3, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle (GERMANY – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

Firefighters pump water into the flooded river Lofer in Lofer in the Austrian province of Salzburg, Sunday, June. 2, 2013. Heavy rainfalls cause flooding along rivers and lakes in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson

Residents rescue their goats in the flooded area by river Sprotte in Saara, central Germany, Sunday, June 2, 2013. The village is enclosed by the floods. Heavy rainfalls cause flooding along rivers and lakes in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

The sign above the door of restaurant and hotel ‘Am Paulusbogen’ is partially submerged in the flooded centre of the Bavarian town of Passau, about 200 km (124 miles) north-east of Munich June 3, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle (GERMANY – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT

People remove mud from a street in the flooded western Austrian village of Koessen June 3, 2013. Torrential rain caused widespread flooding and landslides across Austria on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes.REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler (AUSTRIA – Tags: ENVIRONMENT DISASTER)

A general overview shows the flooded centre of the Bavarian town of Passau, about 200 km (125 miles) northeast of Munich June 3, 2013. Following heavy rain and thaw, the Inn and Donau rivers are expected to rise to over 11 meters. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle (GERMANY – Tags: DISASTER SOCIETY ENVIRONMENT)

A damaged car is pictured in the flooded western Austrian village of Koessen June 3, 2013. Torrential rain caused widespread flooding and landslides across Austria on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes.REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler (AUSTRIA – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

A street sign is partially submerged in the flooded centre of the Bavarian town of Passau, about 200 km (124 miles) north-east of Munich June 3, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle (GERMANY – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

A person looks at the heavily damaged road between Lofer and Waidring in the Austrian province of Tyrol, Monday, June. 3, 2013. Heavy rainfalls caused floods along rivers and lakes in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

Czech soldiers erect metal barriers at a bank of Vltava river in central Prague June 3, 2013. Volunteers piled up sandbags to keep a swollen river from overwhelming the Czech capital’s historic centre on Monday after floods across central Europe forced factories to close, drove thousands from their homes and killed at least seven people. REUTERS/David W Cerny (CZECH REPUBLIC – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

A man stands next to a damaged car after heavy rainfall flooded the western Austrian village of Koessen June 3, 2013. Torrential rain caused widespread flooding and landslides across Austria on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler (AUSTRIA – Tags: ENVIRONMENT DISASTER

People stand in the flooded centre of Passau, southern Germany, Monday, June 3, 2013. Raging waters from three rivers have flooded large parts of the southeast German city following days of heavy rainfall in central Europe. A spokesman for the city’s crisis center said Monday that the situation was “extremely dramatic” and waters are expected to rise further by midday to their level highest in 70 years (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

A street sign is partially submerged in the flooded centre of the Bavarian town of Passau, about 200 km (124 miles) north-east of Munich June 3, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle (GERMANY – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

A traffic sign reading ‘diversion’ is partially submerged in a flooded street in the centre of the Austrian town of Melk, about 100 km (62 miles) west of Vienna June 3, 2013. Torrential rain in Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper and Lower Austria caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger (AUSTRIA – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

Members of the Red Cross make their way by boats in the flooded street in the center of Passau, southern Germany, Monday, June 3, 2013. Raging waters from three rivers have flooded large parts of the southeast German city following days of heavy rainfall in central Europe. A spokesman for the city’s crisis center said Monday that the situation was “extremely dramatic” and waters are expected to rise further by midday to their level highest in 70 years. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Here are the URLs of the videos…

http://news.yahoo.com/video/record-floods-hit-parts-europe-122619602.html

http://news.yahoo.com/video/floods-strike-bavarias-passau-city-122124200.html