National Geographic Traveler magazine just selected the winner and the runners-up of its 2012 Traveler Photo Contest among more than 12,000 entries from 6,615 photographers in 152 countries around the globe.
The top images were taken in variety of locations ranging from Afghanistan to Vietnam, all of them capturing memorable travel sights – places, wildlife, and people – that evoke a sense of delight and discovery.
Check out selected entries competing in this year's contest, courtesy of 2012 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.
Veiwers Choice (Outdoor Scenes): Cabin under the Northern Lights in Finmmark, Norway.
Courtesy of the 2012 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Merit (Sense of Place): Near the city of Morondava, on the West coast of Madagascar lies an ancient forest of Baobab trees.
Courtesy of the 2012 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Merit (Travel Portraits): Oldmen of Chefchaouen, Morocco
Courtesy of the 2012 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
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