Nat Geo drops stunning photos for 2024 'Pictures of the Year': See the images

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The end of the year is (almost) upon us and National Geographic is wrapping up 2024 with its annual "Picture of the Year" issue featuring photographers' most breathtaking and culturally relevant photos from around the world.

"Pictures of the Year is one of my favorite things that we do all year," National Geographic Editor-in-Chief Nathan Lump told USA TODAY. "It’s more than just a collection of great images, it’s a reflection of everything National Geographic embodies: curiosity, exploration, and a commitment to illuminating the beauty and complexity of our world."

The magazine, on Tuesday, revealed its top selections chosen from stories they assigned to photographers working across the globe in 2024 for the fifth annual year-end retrospective. The final 20 photos were narrowed down from a pool of 2.3 million − 300,000 more than in 2023, Lump said, adding that Nat Geo's "dedicated team carefully reviewed" all the photos with a singular goal: "to find shots that are visually compelling and that tell interesting and important stories that will spark curiosity in our audience."