You’re well aware that we’re big fans of photography here at National Geographic. We wouldn’t dream of telling a story without the right photograph to bring whatever it is we’re talking about to wherever you might be. That’s why I love Photo of the Day—it’s the place where we feature the most striking images from our incredible reservoir of already striking images—the photos that speak for themselves, transporting you around the world both visually and emotionally. The photos that inspire you to see for yourself, to learn more about the intricacies of our planet, and to be a more curious, adventurous, and creative human being.

If these photos leave us feeling inspired every day, we wondered what their collective impact would be. An entire year of Photo of the Day. And for a look at the top ten reader favorites, check out Photo of the Day: Best of 2014. Enjoy!

Images used in Photo of the Day are curated from National Geographic magazineNational Geographic magazine, Your Shot, Proof, Traveler Photo Contest, National Geographic Photo Contest, and more. Join the Your Shot community where you can upload your photos for the chance to be featured in Photo of the Day. Be sure to use the #PhotoOfTheDay hashtag.

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Scroll Down for full story information about the National Geographic magazine images featured in Photo of the Day this year.

“Visions on Earth,” October 2013, Photographs by Abelardo Morell

“Paradise Revisited,” November 2013, Photographs by David Doubilet

“Follow the Water: Journey to the Heart of Norway,” November 2013, Photographs by Erlend and Orsolya Haarberg

“Ghost Cats,” December 2013, Photographs by Steve Winter

“To Walk the World,” December 2013, Photographs by John Stanmeyer

“The Weed That Won the West,” December 2013, Photographs by Diane Cook and Len Jenshel

“The Unexpected Walrus,” December 2013, Photoraphs by Paul Nicklen

“Putin’s Party,” January 2014, Photographs by Thomas Dworzak

“Impossible Rock,” January 2014, Photographs by Jimmy Chin

“Once Upon a Dragon,” January 2014, Photographs by Stefano Unterthiner

“Yukon: Canada’s Wild West,” February 2014, Photographs by Paul Nicklen

“Brunelleschi’s Dome,” February 2014, Photographs by Dave Yoder

“Karma of the Crowd,” February 2014, Photographs by Alex Webb

“Yukon: Canada’s Wild West,” February 2014, Photographs by Paul Nicklen

“Quicksilver,” March 2014, Photographs by Brian Skerry

“Where Greenstone Grows,” March 2014, Photographs by Michael Melford

“People of the Horse,” March 2014, Erika Larsen

“Call of the Bloom,” March 2014, Photographs by Merlin D. Tuttle

“Cosmic Dawn,” April 2014, Photographs by Dave Yoder

“A Tale of Two Atolls,” April 2014, Photographs by Thomas P. Peschak

“The Generous Gulf,” May 2014, Photographs by David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes

“Love and Loss on the Seine,” May 2014, Photographs by William Albert Allard

“Puffin Therapy,” June 2014, Photographs by Danny Green

“Life Beyond Earth,” July 2014, Photographs by Mark Thiessen

“Empire of Rock,” July 2014, Photographs by Carsten Peter

“The Next Breadbasket,” July 2014, Photographs by Robin Hammond

“Big Fish,” July 2014, Photographs by David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes

“The Wells of Memory,” July 2014, Photographs by John Stanmeyer

“Gombe Family Album,” August 2014, Photographs by Anup Shah and Fiona Rogers

“Before Stonehenge,” August 2014, Photographs by Jim Richardson

“The Hidden World of the Great War,” August 2014, Photographs by Jeffrey Gusky

“The Meaning of North,” August 2014, Photograph by Cory Richards

“The Evolution of Diet,” September 2014, Photographs by Matthieu Paley

“A World Apart,” September 2014, Photographs by Brian Skerry

“50 Years of Wilderness,” September 2014, Photographs by Michael Melford

“Rethinking Nero,” September 2014, Photographs by Richard Barnes and Alex Majoli

“When the Snows Fail,” October 2014, Photographs by Peter Essick

“Medieval Mountain Hideaway,” October 2014, Photographs by Aaron Huey

“Monkeys of Morocco,” November 2014, Photographs by Francisco Mingorance

“Lowcountry Legacy,” November 2014, Photographs by Vincent J. Musi

“Cowboys on the Edge,” December 2014, Photographs by Tomás Munita

“Cross Currents,” December 2014, Photographs by Thomas P. Peschak

“Blessed. Cursed. Claimed.” December 2014, Photographs by John Stanmeyer

“The First Artists,” January 2015, Photographs by Stephen Alvarez

“Africa’s First City,” January 2015, Photographs by Robin Hammond

“The First Bird,” January 2015, Photographs by Klaus Nigge