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Earth

The most powerful images of the natural world from 2024

A large number of damaging and deadly hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, floods and droughts this year were photographed from land, air and space

By Carissa Wong

23 December 2024

Hurricane Milton churning in the Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane Milton churning in the Gulf of Mexico

CIRA

The ominous swirling grey of Hurricane Milton is captured in the Gulf of Mexico in this shot from the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere. In October, Milton became one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded over the Gulf of Mexico, with winds hitting 285 kilometres per hour. Once it made landfall as a category 3 storm in Florida, it caused storms and flooding that wrecked homes and power lines. It killed at least 35 people, 32 in the US and three in Mexico.

The Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland erupting in February

The Fagradalsfjall volcano in…

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