December 8, 2024

This week’s Photo of the Week captures moments between two worlds: a river’s clear surface and tannic riverbed, the world’s deadliest tsunami, before and after; a brief hug in the Amazon. Also, for the first time, a camera records bears mating high off the ground.

PHOTO BY JASON GULLEY

Swimming between two worlds: For decades, geologist Jason Gulley has explored underwater caves in Florida, the Caribbean, and Africa. In this image, taken just after sunrise, the Nat Geo Explorer captured snook and mullet darting between a dark, tannic riverbed and the clear water from one of a thousand freshwater springs in Florida. This week’s photo is one of National Geographic’s Pictures of the Year. Catch the backstories on these sparkling images.

Related: Pictures of the Year 2024 

Photography 101: How to make great underwater images 

PHOTOGRAPH BY THOMAS PESCHAK 

A love that helps others: Sometimes a spontaneous image can yield so much. Photographer and Nat Geo Explorer Thomas Peschak caught a hug between fellow Explorer Ruthmery Pilco Huarcaya and her rescue dog, Ukuku. The Peruvian biologist and her canine tracking companion are working to protect the Andean bear—and they made big news this week. Learn more about her work here.

Related: In scientific first, cameras catch bears mating in trees

Why it matters: How to save a legendary bear 

PHOTOGRAPH BY STRINGER/REUTERS/REDUX

First came the 9.1 earthquake. Twenty minutes later, the first tsunami waves, as high as 167 feet, blasted this coast, uprooting a crescent of homes, business, trees, and people. (Look closely at before-and-after satellite images above Indonesia’s Sumatran coast.) The 2004 tsunami, the deadliest ever recorded, is the subject of a new National Geographic documentary. See what a tsunami can do.

Watch: Tsunami: Race Against Time, streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. See the first episode here.

Related: A tsunami could wipe this picturesque European town off the map. Why isn’t everyone leaving?  

Today’s Soundtrack: Wave, Meghan Trainor  

Thanks for opening today’s Photo of the Week. David Beard edited and curated it, and Amanda Bryant-Williams produced it. Like what you see? Get this in your inbox next Sunday.