Gallery: Gorgeous Photos From *Nat Geo Traveler'*s 25th Annual Contest
Florin Szoke01The-Reynisdrangar,-Iceland
*__The Reynisdrangar, Iceland__* Basalt sea stacks called Reynisdrangar, located under the Reynisfjall mountain, close to Vik i Myrdal in southern Iceland. The legend was that there were three trolls who were pulling a three masted ship to the shore unsuccessfully, but they were caught by the sunlight at dawn and it turned them into needles of rock. Photo and caption by Florin Szoke/[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)
Ondrej Zaruba02Walking-Chameleon
*__Walking Chameleon__* It is the domestic animal of a small boy. Photo and caption by Ondrej Zaruba/[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)
Francisco Negroni03Tormenta-en-el-Caulle
__*Tormenta en el Caulle*__ The 4th of June 2011 began with the eruption of the Cordon Caulle volcano in the Los Rios region of Chile. The eruption lasted aproximately 12 months in which people and animals had to get used to daily ash-fall, which also created problems with South American air traffic. In the first days of the eruption, explosions and electrical storms from the expulsion of lava were visible for hundreds of kilometers. This photo was taken the second night from the town of Lago Ranco. (Translated from Spanish). *Photo and caption by Francisco Negroni/[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)*
04Swim-with-Jelly-Fish-
*__Swim With Jelly Fish__* It's like a dream when you're swimming with harmless jellyfish ... Photo and caption by CheanChong Lim/[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)
Bonnie Stewart05Flying-Monk
*__Flying Monk__* Young monks begin their service very early in life in their studies in the monastery. This monk was young and energetic and decided to "fly" in his exuberance for life. Photo and caption by Bonnie Stewart /[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)
Hannes Lochner06Starry-Starry-Night
*__Starry Starry Night__* In the rainy season the insects are in abundance in the Kalahari desert. Outside my tent is a big light that attracts lots of bugs. The Bibron's geckos take advantage and perch themselves anywhere close to the light-source and have a feast. The glow from the left is from my fire. Photo and caption by Hannes Lochner/[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)
Robin Moore07Fly-cap-for-a-vine-snake
*__Fly Cap For A Vine Snake__* A fly lands on the head of a vine snake in the Choco of Colombia. Photo and caption by Robin Moore/[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)
AndrÈs Miguel DomÌnguez08Snowmelt-in-the-mountains-
*__Snowmelt in The Mountains__* This picture was taken in Spain (Parque natural "Sierra de Grazalema"). In meadows where cattle during heavy rains, many small gaps are formed. These ponds raised slightly eutrophic freshwater algae. These algae live with herbaceous plants and when the lakes freeze very attractive compositions are created. Here we appreciate frozen bubbles and lines formed on thawing. This occurs when the temperature rises past dawn. I used macro lens because this wild geranium leaf (Erodium sp.) is very small. Photo and caption by AndrÈs Miguel DomÌnguez/[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)
Richard Sidey09Gentoo-Chicks
*__Gentoo Chicks__* Two newly hatched Gentoo Penguin chicks get their first glimpse at the Antarctic wilderness. Photo and caption by Richard Sidey/[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)
Francisco Mingorance10FÈnec-The-soul-of-the-desert
*__FÈnec The Soul of The Desert__* The fennec, or desert fox, is a canine mammal species of the genus Vulpes, which inhabits the Sahara Desert and Arabia. With its featured ears, this is the smallest species of the family Canidae. It is endangered and its main threat is illegal in other countries. Photo and caption by Francisco Mingorance/[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)
Amir Abramovich11-The-Scream----Underwater-Version
*__"The Scream" - Underwater Version__* Taken during a dive at 6m deep. A young yellow mouth eel. Photo and caption by Amir Abramovich/[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)
Ignacio Palacios12Hamersley-Gorge
*__Hamersley Gorge__* Karijini National Park is one of the largest and most photogenic national parks in Australia. The park is famous for its sheer gorges, waterfalls, sparkling rock pools and cool swimming holes. Karijini is about 275km south of Port Hedland and 100km east of Tom or Paraburdoo. The park is all about exploring serpentine tunnels of marbled rock, clambering over boulders, squeezing through narrow tunnels, inching your way along ledges, paddling through subterranean waterways and descending deep into chasms which have been eroded into the landscape over two billion years. Photo and caption by Ignacio Palacios/[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)
Christian Roth13A-Rare-Reflection
*__A Rare Reflection__* Returning from a snorkeling excursion during a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, wind speed dropped to zero and the ocean became a mirror. As the horizon disappeared, only the seaplane, sitting confidently between the blue elements provided a sense of space and felt like a link to the rest of the world. Photo and caption by Christian Roth/[National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2013/)
