Extraordinary photos!

Presented for your viewing pleasure are these selected photos from neferjournal galleries. Depicting natural and man-made beauty, these photos are so stunning they will take your breath away. Lightly edited captions are lifted from the email which alerted me to these incredible pictures. 

Enjoy! 

Dubai. The view from the skyscraper Burj Khalifa. The height of the building is 828 m (163 floors).

Dubai. The view from the skyscraper Burj Khalifa. The height of the building is 828 m (163 floors).

And this is the view looking down

I have no idea, but I like it

The world's highest chained carousel, located in Vienna, at a height of 117 meters.

The world's highest chained carousel, located in Vienna, at a height of 117 meters.

Emerald Lake in the crater of an extinct volcano. Tongariro National Park, New Zealand Emerald Lake in the crater of an extinct volcano. Tongariro National Park, New Zealand

Emerald Lake in the crater of an extinct volcano. Tongariro National Park, New Zealand

Emerald Lake in the crater of an extinct volcano. Tongariro National Park, New Zealand

Emerald Lake in the crater of an extinct volcano. Tongariro National Park, New Zealand

Madrid: Office of Selgas Cano

Thor's Well aka "the gates of the dungeon" on Cape Perpetua, Oregon. At moderate tide and strong surf, flowing water creates a fantastic landscape Thor's Well aka "the gates of the dungeon" on Cape Perpetua, Oregon. At moderate tide and strong surf, flowing water creates a fantastic landscape

Thor's Well aka "the gates of the dungeon" on Cape Perpetua, Oregon. At moderate tide and strong surf, flowing water creates a fantastic landscape

Thor's Well aka "the gates of the dungeon" on Cape Perpetua, Oregon. At moderate tide and strong surf, flowing water creates a fantastic landscape

Thor's Well aka "the gates of the dungeon" on Cape Perpetua, Oregon. At moderate tide and strong surf, flowing water creates a fantastic landscape

These trees grow in the forest near Gryfino, Poland. The cause of the curvature is unknown

These trees grow in the forest near Gryfino, Poland. The cause of the curvature is unknown 

A cafe on the border between Belgium and the Netherlands

A cafe on the border between Belgium and the Netherlands

Twice a year in the Gulf of Mexico rays migrate. About 10 thousand stingrays swim from the Yucatan Peninsula to Florida in the spring and back in the fall.

Twice a year in the Gulf of Mexico rays migrate. About 10 thousand stingrays swim from the Yucatan Peninsula to Florida in the spring and back in the fall.

Twice a year in the Gulf of Mexico rays migrate. About 10 thousand stingrays swim from the Yucatan Peninsula to Florida in the spring and back in the fall.

In the resort town of Skagen you can watch an amazing natural phenomenon. This city is the northernmost point of Denmark, where the Baltic and North Seas meet. The two opposing tides in this place can not merge because they have different densities. In the resort town of Skagen you can watch an amazing natural phenomenon. This city is the northernmost point of Denmark, where the Baltic and North Seas meet. The two opposing tides in this place can not merge because they have different densities.

In the Chinese province of Shandong is a bridge across the Gulf of Jiaozhou . The bridge length over 36 km is calculated for eight car lanes, and is the longest sea bridge in the world. In the Chinese province of Shandong is a bridge across the Gulf of Jiaozhou . The bridge length over 36 km is calculated for eight car lanes, and is the longest sea bridge in the world.

Freedom!

Day and night views of a monument in Kaunas, Lithuania Day and night views of a monument in Kaunas, Lithuania This statue, created by Bruno Catalano, is located in France This statue, created by Bruno Catalano, is located in France

Family portrait

Family portrait

China. The longest recorded traffic jam in the world, 260 kilometers

China. The longest recorded traffic jam in the world, 260 kilometers

Paris computer games store. In fact, the floor is absolutely flat. Paris computer games store. In fact, the floor is absolutely flat. Marcus Levine creates his art by nailing a white wooden panel. At his latest series of works exhibited in a gallery in London, Marcus used more than 50,000 nails. Marcus Levine creates his art by nailing a white wooden panel. At his latest series of works exhibited in a gallery in London, Marcus used more than 50,000 nails. In the city of Buford (USA) lives just one person. He works as a janitor and as a mayor. In the city of Buford (USA) lives just one person. He works as a janitor and as a mayor.

Haus Rizzi - Germany . Haus Rizzi - Germany .

Lena Pillars. Russia, the Lena River. Lena Pillars. Russia, the Lena River. Lena Pillars. Russia, the Lena River. Lena Pillars. Russia, the Lena River. Lena Pillars. Russia, the Lena River.

Favelas of Brazil . The boundary between wealth and poverty. Favelas of Brazil . The boundary between wealth and poverty.

Lost paradise in the Indian Ocean. Isle of Lamu. Lost paradise in the Indian Ocean. Isle of Lamu. Chicago. Balcony on the 103rd floor. Chicago. Balcony on the 103rd floor. Same balcony as seen from outside Same balcony as seen from outside View of the sunset from inside the wave. View of the sunset from inside the wave. China. This unique geological phenomenon known as the Danxia landform is located in Zhangye, Province of Gansu. The color is from red sandstone and other rocks. China. This unique geological phenomenon known as the Danxia landform is located in Zhangye, Province of Gansu. The color is from red sandstone and other rocks. In northwestern Montana, USA. The water is so transparent that it seems that this is a quite shallow lake. In fact, it’s very deep.  In northwestern Montana, USA. The water is so transparent that it seems that this is a quite shallow lake. In fact, it’s very deep.  Airport in the Maldives is located on an artificial island in the middle of the Indian Ocean Airport in the Maldives is located on an artificial island in the middle of the Indian Ocean

Lighthouse in Mare, France. The guard must be one of the most courageous people on the planet! Not everyone will have a smoke in such weather, and in such a place! Lighthouse in Mare, France. The guard must be one of the most courageous people on the planet! Not everyone will have a smoke in such weather, and in such a place! Photo of storm in Montana, USA, 2010 Photo of storm in Montana, USA, 2010 Dubai: Skyscraper Crescent Moon Tower  Dubai: Skyscraper Crescent Moon Tower  Heavy fog in Sydney, which enveloped the whole city Heavy fog in Sydney, which enveloped the whole city

The river above the river: Magdeburg Water Bridge, Germany.

The river above the river: Magdeburg Water Bridge, Germany.

Wind rows

Cars and buses wait at a plane crossing

Restaurant on a cliff on the east coast of Zanzibar. Depending on the tide the restaurant can be reached both on foot and by boat. Restaurant on a cliff on the east coast of Zanzibar. Depending on the tide the restaurant can be reached both on foot and by boat.

Desert with Phacelia (Scorpion Weed) flowering once in several years Desert with Phacelia (Scorpion Weed) flowering once in several years

Balloons over Cappadocia, Turkey Balloons over Cappadocia, Turkey

Banpo Bridge in Seoul, South Korea Banpo Bridge in Seoul, South Korea Banpo Bridge in Seoul, South Korea Banpo Bridge in Seoul, South Korea Banpo Bridge in Seoul, South Korea Autumn camouflage Autumn camouflage

An unusual tunnel in California 's Sequoia National Park An unusual tunnel in California 's Sequoia National Park

An unusual tunnel in California 's Sequoia National Park

An unusual tunnel in California 's Sequoia National Park

An unusual tunnel in California 's Sequoia National Park

The $350 million Dynamic Architecture building, a project of an eponymous Florence, Italy-based firm led by architect David Fisher, will literally spin--with each individual floor self-propelled, voice-controlled and even capable of generating environmentally friendly power.

Meet my little blue-eyed friend

Incidentally, the email which alerted me to these incredible pictures invites the recipient to download the photos, which is something I do not recommend one do without checking the original source!

Naturally, I want to share these images, too. But rather than forwarding the email, I simply copied the images here and credited the original source. Formatting was a pain (and I am still not happy), but this way I can share the views without passing along any potential viruses.

• Comments on the quality of the photography?
• Do you have favorite photos?
• Thoughts on the security issue?
• Links to similar photo compilations?
• Corrections to any of the captions?

Hat tip: H.E., who also contributed one of my most popular posts, a reformatted email about paraprosdokianisms