The most beautiful nature photos of December

Hills aglow with fall foliage surround Cascade Lake in Adirondack Park, New York, USA. The lakeside trail is a favorite destination for hikers.

The Sappho sparganura hummingbird shows off its beautiful iridescent plumage while feeding. Its long, forked tail makes it one of the most distinctive and well-known hummingbird species. "The photographer's angle really shows off the beauty of the plumage. I love the symmetry in the image and being able to focus right on the beauty of the bird," says photo editor Kristen McNicholas.

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

A herd of musk oxen bask in the sunset in Dovrefjell National Park, Norway. Their special hooves help them move over rocks and snow.

The aerial battle between a juvenile bald eagle and an adult near the Chilkat River in Alaska may have been over salmon below. However, photographer Hilary Bralove believes it was more of a mock battle. "In the end, they both had plenty of food," Bralove said.

Photographer Terry Zhang caught the inversion cloud phenomenon 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 the 500m cliff, I ran to the location to create the impression of grandeur as the clouds started to drift. After 10 minutes, the clouds completely covered the mountain top. I was 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, Portugal.

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

"The baby monkey is watching the other juvenile monkeys while his father is dozing. What I found most interesting was the way the baby monkey clung to his father," shared photographer Marsel van Oosten.

Dramatic view of the Golden Gate Bridge, USA, at sunrise. "These are the perfect conditions for a spectacular sunrise, the clouds look like fire and the mist covers the bridge," commented photographer Zach Matthai.