The most beautiful nature photos of December.

The hills, ablaze with the colors of autumn foliage, surround Cascade Lake in Adirondack Park, New York, USA. The lakeside trail is a favorite destination for hikers.

The Sappho sparganura hummingbird displays its beautiful iridescent plumage while foraging. Its long, forked tail makes it one of the most distinctive and well-known hummingbird species. "The photographer's angle really captured the full beauty of the plumage. I love the symmetry in the picture and can immediately focus on the bird's beauty," commented photo editor Kristen McNicholas.

A group of tourists walk past elephants in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Approximately 80% of Tanzania's elephants live in this park. However, they are constantly threatened by poachers who hunt them for their ivory.

A herd of musk oxen basks in the sunset light in Dovrefjell National Park, Norway. Their distinctive hooves help them navigate rocks and snow.

An aerial battle occurred between a young bald eagle and an adult near the Chilkat River, Alaska. The cause may have been a dispute over salmon below. However, photographer Hilary Bralove suggests it resembled a mock fight more than anything else. "In the end, both got plenty of food," Bralove said.

Photographer Terry Zhang encountered the phenomenon of inverted clouds on his last day on Senja Island, Norway. After two days of rain and limited visibility, Zhang was able to admire the beauty of the place.

"I arrived at midnight and waited three hours for the sunrise. After setting up my tripod on a 500-meter-high cliff, I ran to the perfect spot to capture the majestic view as the clouds began to drift. After 10 minutes, the clouds completely enveloped the mountaintop. I was incredibly lucky to be in the right place at the right time and capture this moment," the photographer recounted.

Photographer Magnus Lundborg captured a curious blue shark while diving off the coast of Pico Island, Azores Islands, Portugal.

A cheetah cub plays with its mother in the Rift Valley, Kenya. "The photographer captured an incredibly cute moment," commented expert David Y. Lee.

"The baby monkey was observing other immature monkeys while its father dozed off. What I found most interesting was the way the baby monkey clung to its father," photographer Marsel van Oosten shared.

The scene at the Golden Gate Bridge in the US at sunrise is stunning. "These are the perfect conditions for a spectacular sunrise. The clouds look like fire and the mist blankets the bridge," photographer Zach Matthai commented.