January 01 2012

Australia, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom

 Painted backstreet of Dozza in the province of Bologna, Italy

(© SIME/eStock Photos)

France

Great Horned Owl in the province of Alberta, Canada

(© Wayne Lynch/Corbis)

China

 Guetenbach slowly peels out of the morning mist, Black Forest, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

(© HP Belenos/Huber/4Corners)

Japan

Fireworks over Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

(© Chan Yat Nin/Corbis)

New Zealand, United States

  

Polar Bear rolling on the frozen Beaufort Sea, near Point Barrow, Alaska, US

(© Patrick J. Endres/Visuals Unlimited)