Coastal waters are places of transition, where oceans, land, and sometimes freshwater meet.
These images of natural and man-made waters, shown from both aerial and ground views, include lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and their surrounding landscapes.
All oceans on earth interconnect, forming one global body of salt water that is home to millions of marine organisms.
Small pools and puddles of water are almost microscopic compared to massive oceans, but they harbor a diversity of small insects, microorganisms, and more.
Reefs, including atolls (reefs enclosing a lagoon), are homes to diverse – and often fragile – life. The snapshots of these imperiled ecosystems are vital for research and for recording these part of the world's biodiversity heritage.
Wetlands are places of transition where land and water meet, and where plants have adapted to a soil saturated with water. Wetlands can include both coastal and freshwater environments.