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Updated 9:46 AM ET, Fri January 2, 2015

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The <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm" target="_blank">tallest sand dunes</a> in North America can be found at <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1169347">Great Sand Dunes National Park</a> located in the San Luis Valley, Colorado.
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Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado – The tallest sand dunes in North America can be found at Great Sand Dunes National Park located in the San Luis Valley, Colorado.
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Crocodiles lounge around at <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1131192">Bannerghatta National Park</a> near Bangalore, India.
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Bangalore, India – Crocodiles lounge around at Bannerghatta National Park near Bangalore, India.
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Lichen-tainted rocks at Spikey Beach in Tasmania, Australia, "paint the world in peaceful orange," writes <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1184668">Steven Kemp</a>, a retired air traffic controller. "In a world of turmoil, orange can be meditative."
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Tasmania, Australia – Lichen-tainted rocks at Spikey Beach in Tasmania, Australia, "paint the world in peaceful orange," writes Steven Kemp, a retired air traffic controller. "In a world of turmoil, orange can be meditative."
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Each year, the <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1071189">Capitol Christmas Tree</a> is hung with some<a href="http://www.aoc.gov/press-room/holiday-tradition" target="_blank"> 5,000 handmade ornaments</a> made mostly by school children in the tree's home state.
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Washington, D.C. – Each year, the Capitol Christmas Tree is hung with some 5,000 handmade ornaments made mostly by school children in the tree's home state.
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Monsoon season in the American Southwest comes with extreme heat, crackling thunder and booming lightning. Photographer <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-814216">Andrew Pielage</a> captured this shot at exactly midnight in Scottsdale, Arizona, on July 12, 2012.
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Scottsdale, Arizona – Monsoon season in the American Southwest comes with extreme heat, crackling thunder and booming lightning. Photographer Andrew Pielage captured this shot at exactly midnight in Scottsdale, Arizona, on July 12, 2012.
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Bright Christmas decor adorns Puerto del Sol, a bustling square in <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1069767">Madrid, Spain</a>.
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Madrid, Spain – Bright Christmas decor adorns Puerto del Sol, a bustling square in Madrid, Spain.
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Independence, reclaimed: After two years of loss and change, <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1064304">Tiffany Cecil</a> took a West Coast holiday by herself. Sand flew in her face as she watched the crashing surf at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. "Even when you feel like your world is crashing down around you, there's still beauty left to be seen and felt."
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Point Reyes National Seashore, California – Independence, reclaimed: After two years of loss and change, Tiffany Cecil took a West Coast holiday by herself. Sand flew in her face as she watched the crashing surf at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. "Even when you feel like your world is crashing down around you, there's still beauty left to be seen and felt."
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A serene walk through Battery Park after dinner is the perfect way to end the day, says <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-849277">Julie Schao</a>.
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New York – A serene walk through Battery Park after dinner is the perfect way to end the day, says Julie Schao.
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Snow-covered mountains offer a dramatic backdrop to the roads running through <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-914817">Banff, Alberta.</a>
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Banff, Alberta – Snow-covered mountains offer a dramatic backdrop to the roads running through Banff, Alberta.
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A surfer rides a wave off the coast of <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1078219">San Diego, California</a>.
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San Diego, California – A surfer rides a wave off the coast of San Diego, California.
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A horse grazes in front of the ancient Khmer landmark of <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1032856">Angkor Wat</a> in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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Siem Reap, Cambodia – A horse grazes in front of the ancient Khmer landmark of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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The Dome of St. Peter's Basilica offers a stunning view of the Vatican from above. Archaeologist and journalist <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1075102">Irene Fanizza</a>, who lives in Venice, snapped this photo during her annual visit to Rome in January 2014.
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Rome, Italy – The Dome of St. Peter's Basilica offers a stunning view of the Vatican from above. Archaeologist and journalist Irene Fanizza, who lives in Venice, snapped this photo during her annual visit to Rome in January 2014.
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<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1184017">Edyta Soriano</a> captured a candid moment in her photo of four nuns peering into the window of a jewelry shop near Plac Zamkowy in Warsaw, Poland.
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Warsaw, Poland – Edyta Soriano captured a candid moment in her photo of four nuns peering into the window of a jewelry shop near Plac Zamkowy in Warsaw, Poland.
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A <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-914944">red-bellied piranha</a> shows off its razor-sharp teeth after being caught in a shallow lagoon in Peru's Amazon Basin.
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Amazon Basin, Peru – A red-bellied piranha shows off its razor-sharp teeth after being caught in a shallow lagoon in Peru's Amazon Basin.
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The mountains, lakes and glaciers of the <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1170095">Canadian Rockies</a> rival the beauty of New Zealand, says Sameer Rohatgi, who visited Banff National Park in September.
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Banff National Park, Alberta – The mountains, lakes and glaciers of the Canadian Rockies rival the beauty of New Zealand, says Sameer Rohatgi, who visited Banff National Park in September.
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Dancers in General Santos City, Philippines, celebrate the <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-934022">Kalilangan Festival</a> in February 2013. The event shows "the unity of every tribe here in our country," said the photographer, Eli Ritchie Tongo.
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General Santos City, Philippines – Dancers in General Santos City, Philippines, celebrate the Kalilangan Festival in February 2013. The event shows "the unity of every tribe here in our country," said the photographer, Eli Ritchie Tongo.
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After a winter storm in Columbus, Indiana, <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1068450">Adam Aniz Sarbudeen</a> captured this colorful sunset as seen through an icicle.
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Columbus, Indiana – After a winter storm in Columbus, Indiana, Adam Aniz Sarbudeen captured this colorful sunset as seen through an icicle.
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The <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1180886">Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park</a>, located on the Arizona-Utah state line, is known for its towering sandstone formations and panoramic views.
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Monument Valley, Utah – The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, located on the Arizona-Utah state line, is known for its towering sandstone formations and panoramic views.
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Ancient tower-houses peek out from the village of <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1186104">Ushguli</a> in the Upper Svaneti region of the Caucasus in Georgia. The area was designated as a <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/709/" target="_blank">UNESCO World Heritage site</a> in 1996.
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Ushguli, Georgia – Ancient tower-houses peek out from the village of Ushguli in the Upper Svaneti region of the Caucasus in Georgia. The area was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.
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Wondrous rock<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1150487"> formations</a> fill <a href="http://luraycaverns.com/discover/caverns" target="_blank">Luray Caverns</a> in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
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Luray Caverns, Virginia – Wondrous rock formations fill Luray Caverns in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
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Dusk settles over the river <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1173773">Seine</a> in Paris, France, in this HDR shot.
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Paris, France – Dusk settles over the river Seine in Paris, France, in this HDR shot.
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<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1077804">Alicia Kwoka </a>captured this shot in January of pedestrians in the streets of Queens in the midst of a steady snowfall. Kwoka said the peaceful street was a stark contrast to the usually busy New York environment.
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Queens, New York – Alicia Kwoka captured this shot in January of pedestrians in the streets of Queens in the midst of a steady snowfall. Kwoka said the peaceful street was a stark contrast to the usually busy New York environment.
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The sun rises over the mountains in <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-790142">Davao</a>, Philippines.
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Davao, Philippines – The sun rises over the mountains in Davao, Philippines.
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Happy Thanksgiving! These ducks sure look like they're enjoying a <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1179461">cranberry bog</a> in Yarmouth, Massachusetts.
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Yarmouth, Massachusetts – Happy Thanksgiving! These ducks sure look like they're enjoying a cranberry bog in Yarmouth, Massachusetts.
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Morning sun lights up the Ganges in <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1112357">Varanasi</a>, India.
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Varanasi, India – Morning sun lights up the Ganges in Varanasi, India.
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<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1169557">Namita Azad</a> hiked through misty Machu Picchu, Peru, on a visit back in August. "As the minutes went by, the mist slowly rose and the sun started seeping through, giving it a magical feel," she said.
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Machu Picchu, Peru – Namita Azad hiked through misty Machu Picchu, Peru, on a visit back in August. "As the minutes went by, the mist slowly rose and the sun started seeping through, giving it a magical feel," she said.
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Be sure to look down as you wander the coast of Malibu, California. Marie Sager says <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1038801">each tidepool</a> holds "a new discovery of little sea creatures."
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Malibu, California – Be sure to look down as you wander the coast of Malibu, California. Marie Sager says each tidepool holds "a new discovery of little sea creatures."
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The morning sun warms the <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1194" target="_blank">Jatiluwih Rice Terrace</a> in Bali, <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1170784">Indonesia</a>. Mount Agung, the highest point on the island, rests in the background.
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Bali, Indonesia – The morning sun warms the Jatiluwih Rice Terrace in Bali, Indonesia. Mount Agung, the highest point on the island, rests in the background.
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The <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1140065">Oude Kerk</a> stands just beyond an icy bridge in Amsterdam. The 800-year-old building was constructed in the early fourteenth century as a <a href="http://www.oudekerk.nl/en/" target="_blank">Roman Catholic church</a>, but also has Protestant influences in its architecture.
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Amsterdam, Netherlands – The Oude Kerk stands just beyond an icy bridge in Amsterdam. The 800-year-old building was constructed in the early fourteenth century as a Roman Catholic church, but also has Protestant influences in its architecture.
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An abandoned ship rests on the shores of the <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1169993">Kamchatka Peninsula</a> in the <a href="http://www.kamchatka.gov.ru/en/index.php?cont=3" target="_blank">Russian Far East.</a> The 900 mile-long peninsula is roughly the size of California and is home to a large collection of volcanoes.
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Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia – An abandoned ship rests on the shores of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. The 900 mile-long peninsula is roughly the size of California and is home to a large collection of volcanoes.
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The<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1049110"> Milky Way </a>twinkles over the <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5129900" target="_blank">Ancient Bristlecone Forest</a> near Big Pine, California. The tree near the center of the photograph is the Great Basin bristlecone pine tree. The oldest known tree of this type is more than 5,000 years old.
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Ancient Bristlecone Forest, California – The Milky Way twinkles over the Ancient Bristlecone Forest near Big Pine, California. The tree near the center of the photograph is the Great Basin bristlecone pine tree. The oldest known tree of this type is more than 5,000 years old.
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A trip to Paris isn't complete without a visit to the <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-850054">Sacre-Coeur Basilica</a>, which -- besides being a beautiful, historic church -- affords stunning vistas of the city of lights.
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Paris, France – A trip to Paris isn't complete without a visit to the Sacre-Coeur Basilica, which -- besides being a beautiful, historic church -- affords stunning vistas of the city of lights.
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Ever heard of a <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1167112">snowfield</a>? It's permanent snow that fell in the winter and is thick enough to stick around the rest of the year. During the summer, the melting snow can create a maze of tunnels under the snowfield. This one is near the gates of Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Montana.
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Gardiner, Montana – Ever heard of a snowfield? It's permanent snow that fell in the winter and is thick enough to stick around the rest of the year. During the summer, the melting snow can create a maze of tunnels under the snowfield. This one is near the gates of Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Montana.
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<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1182176">Colorful bangles</a> fill a street vendor's table in Jaipur, India.
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Jaipur, India – Colorful bangles fill a street vendor's table in Jaipur, India.
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It took photographer <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1157291">Tim Durkan</a> "a lot of prep, hard work, and just plain good luck" to capture the crescent moon behind Seattle's Space Needle in July 2014.
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Seattle, Washington – It took photographer Tim Durkan "a lot of prep, hard work, and just plain good luck" to capture the crescent moon behind Seattle's Space Needle in July 2014.
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As the sun set around Washington, D.C., <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1187523">Richard Barnhill </a>caught this shot of the Marine Corps War Memorial against the pink fall sky. The<a href="http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/historyculture/usmcwarmemorial.htm" target="_blank"> Marine Corps War Memorial</a> inscription reads: "In honor and in memory of the men of the United States Marine Corps who have given their lives to their country since November 10, 1775."
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Arlington, Virginia – As the sun set around Washington, D.C., Richard Barnhill caught this shot of the Marine Corps War Memorial against the pink fall sky. The Marine Corps War Memorial inscription reads: "In honor and in memory of the men of the United States Marine Corps who have given their lives to their country since November 10, 1775."
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<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1035615">Deepak Yalamanchi</a> and his friends were rewarded for their hourlong wait at Mesa Arch in Utah's Canyonlands National Park with this beautiful sunrise. "It filled the place with a brilliant golden hue that was breathtaking!" he said.
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