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This year’s contest attracted more than 13,000 submissions from around the world.

Mermaid by Reiko Takahashi. Grad Prix of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest, 2018.

The winning image, aptly entitled ‘Mermaid’, was taken by the photographer when she was snorkelling near Japan’s Kumejima Island. Takahashi noted that whilst the calf stayed close to her mom for the most part, there was one point where “the calf began jumping and tapping its tail on the water” close to where she was swimming.

The entries in the other categories are equally noteworthy. We’ve compiled some of our favorites.

Another Rainy day in Nagasaki, Kyushu. Hiro Kurashina, First place in category ‘Cities’.

Tea Culture. Alessandra Meniconzi, First place in category ‘People’.

Mars. Marco Grassi, Third place in category ‘Nature’.

Challenging Journey. MD Tanveer Hassan Rohan, Third place in category ‘People’.

Flamingos Taking Off. Hao J., Second place in category ‘Nature’.