2011: The Year in Photos
Take a look back at 2011 in pictures: the celebrations, the defeats, the accomplishments and wonderful times that were shared around the world.
US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the White House Situation Room.
Revelers gather at the fence on the north side of the White House, after President Barack Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden during a late evening statement to the press.
People release paper lanterns onto the Motoyasu River to commemorate the atomic bomb victims and pray for world peace beside the A-Bomb Dome on the 66th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.
US Navy safety swimmers stand on the deck of the Virginia class submarine USS New Hampshire after it surfaced through thin ice during exercises beneath the Arctic Ocean north of Prudhoe Bay, AK.
Tibetan Buddhists carry a giant thangka, a Tibetan religious silk painting with embroidery, to be displayed on a hill near Langmu Temple in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province.
Billy Stinson (R), his wife and daughter walk out to watch the sunset from the steps where their cottage once stood in Nags Head, NC. The cottage, built in 1903, was destroyed by Hurricane Irene.
Workers adjust beams of the Tribute in Lights ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in NYC.
Egyptians cross the Nile River after leaving Tahrir Square in Cairo. A day after President Hosni Mubarak resigned, Cairo burst with civic pride, with volunteers cleaning and painting Tahrir Square.
A man flies a kite made of 110 tukkal, or paper lanterns, for the Hindu festival of "Makar Sankranti," which marks the start of spring, in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad.
An iPhone with Apple founder Steve Jobs' photo is displayed in remembrance. Jobs, 56, passed away Oct. 5, 2011, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
TRH Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge greet well-wishers from the balcony at Buckingham Palace in London. Thousands of well-wishers came to witness the Royal Wedding.
Marchers carry balloons down Fifth Avenue during the 2011 NYC LGBT Pride March on the streets of Manhattan. Thousands of revelers had reason to celebrate after New York state legislators approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage on Friday, June 24.
Buddhist novice monk Kyaw Thiha plays during a heavy rainfall at Shin Ohtama Tharya monastery in Yangon. Entering monkhood is a rite of passage for many Myanmar boys, although most spend a few days to a few months rather than as a lifetime commitment.
Munzin Chowdhury (C) and other enthusiasts perform yoga in Times Square during an event marking the summer solstice in NYC.
A villager uses a boat in a flooded street after heavy rains in Atibaia.
Barbara Tremblay (L) and Stacey Minondo wait in line to get married at the Brooklyn City Clerk's office in New York City. This day marked the first day gay couples were allowed to legally marry in New York.
Italian judge Paolo Dondina (L) stands with Best in Show winner Hickory, a Scottish Deerhound, and his handler Angela Lloyd during the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.
After 2 decards of planning, the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial opened to the public in Washington, DC, on the National Mall, on August 22, 2011.
A sign of love for Oslo is seen inside of a sea of flowers and lit candles placed in memory of those killed during a bomb attack in front of Oslo Cathedral.
Japanese earthquake victims enjoy a communal bath set up in tents by the Japanese Self Defense Force in Rikuzentakata, Japan. Hundreds of thousands were made homeless by the 8.9 Earthquake that struck Japan on March 11.
An aerial view shows people removing mud after a soil liquefaction caused from an earthquake that struck Christchurch, New Zealand on February 22.
C.J. Wilson (No. 98), T.J. Lang (No. 70) and Ryan Pickett (No. 79) of the Green Bay Packers dump Gatorade on Head Coach Mike McCarthy after they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.
Oscar Pistorius of South Africa competes in the men's 400 meters heat during day 2 of the 13th IAAF World Athletics Championships at Daegu Stadium in Daegu, South Korea.
Pearl Harbor survivor Richard Mayo talks to US Navy Chief Nixon Galan at the "Remembrance Wall" on the Arizona Memorial at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Honolulu. This day marked the 70th anniversary of the Japanese air and naval assault.
Artist Liu Bolin demonstrates an art installation by blending in with vegetables displayed on the shelves at a supermarket in Beijing. Liu, also known as the "Vanishing Artist," started practicing being "invisible" by means of optical illusions more than 6 years ago.
NASA space shuttle Endeavour is back dropped by a night time view of Earth as it’s docked to the International Space Station. After 20 years, 25 missions and more than 115 million miles in space, Endeavour is on the last leg of its final flight before being retired and donated to the California Science Center in Los Angeles.
A plane flies past a smoke plume from the May 21 eruption of the Grimsvotn volcano, under the Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland.
The UConn Huskies react after defeating the Butler Bulldogs to win the National Championship Game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at Reliant Stadium on April 4 in Houston, TX.
A model walks the runway at the Pamella Roland Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Studio at Lincoln Center in NYC.
People crowd around the TV set to watch Sri Lanka play New Zealand in the ICC World Cup Semi Final match taking place in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The scenery for the opera "Andre Chenier," by Italian musician Umberto Giordano is seen on a giant floating stage at Lake Constance in Bregenz.
Fighters battle in Manhattan's Union Square during a massive pillow fight on April 2. Over 130 cities worldwide participated in the 4th annual International Pillow Fight Day.
A painted model poses for photographers on the final day of the World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, Austria. The annual festival started in 1998, and this year drew body painting artists from 40 different nations.
A rider rears up on his horse surrounded by a crowd in downtown Ciutadella, in the Spanish Balearic Island of Menorca, during a traditional Fiesta of San Joan (Saint John).
Snow falls on the Cloud Gate sculpture in Millennium Park in Chicago. Chicago was under a blizzard warning as forecasters predicted up to 20 inches of snow with wind gusts of up to 60 mph.
A boy is hoisted up by the crowd during Holi, the festival of colors, at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah.
Pujie Girls, Karren (L) and Jinyu, pose for a photograph while demonstrating planking during an interview with Reuters at Ximending in Taipei. The 2 Taiwanese "planking" women have made a name for themselves on the Internet, and hope to use the craze to spread positive social messages.
Cindy Wilson of Aurora, Ohio (L) takes part in an attempt to set a new Guinness world record for the most Lucy Ricardo look alikes assembled in one place in Jamestown, NY.
A pack of cyclists make headway during the 3rd stage of the 10th Tour of Qatar cycling race from Al Wakra to Mesaieed.
A caretaker looks on as 7-year-old Laxmi rubs trunks with her daughter, 13 month old Rani, during the Sonepur Mela in Sonepur near Patna, India.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge dances with Vanessa Boateng (C) as his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge looks on during a Centrepoint reception. The national charity provides housing and support to improve the lives of homeless young people aged 16-25.