I scoured the internet and compiled my favorite photos from 2012. Enjoy.

Fireworks light up the London skyline just after Big Ben struck midnight, kicking off 2012.

Fireworks light up the London skyline just after Big Ben struck midnight, kicking off 2012.

A grand martial arts performance was staged to celebrate China’s seventh Cultural Heritage Day in Tagou Wushu School in central China’s Henan Province.

A grand martial arts performance was staged to celebrate China’s seventh Cultural Heritage Day in Tagou Wushu School in central China’s Henan Province.

A man dives into the water near Kaaterskill Falls in the Catskill Mountains in the Hudson Valley.

A man dives into the water near Kaaterskill Falls in the Catskill Mountains in the Hudson Valley.

The cruise ship Costa Concordia lies stricken off the shore of the Italian island of Giglio. The ship struck a rock and turned on its side on January 13, killing 32 people from eight countries.

The cruise ship Costa Concordia lies stricken off the shore of the Italian island of Giglio. The ship struck a rock and turned on its side on January 13, killing 32 people from eight countries.

A young girl looks over the Doro refugee camp in South Sudan in May. More than 500,000 people have fled from Sudan into South Sudan as a result of the ongoing conflict between the two states.

A young girl looks over the Doro refugee camp in South Sudan in May. More than 500,000 people have fled from Sudan into South Sudan as a result of the ongoing conflict between the two states.

154 water-skiers from around the world gather in Strahan, Tasmania to attempt to set a new world record. To qualify, the skiers had to stay upright for a full nautical mile.

154 water-skiers from around the world gather in Strahan, Tasmania to attempt to set a new world record. To qualify, the skiers had to stay upright for a full nautical mile.

Sgt. 1st Class Paul Brady of the 182nd Infantry Massachusetts National Guard embraces his 6-year-old daughter, Regan, during a welcome home ceremony in Melrose, Massachusetts. The 182nd Infantry Regiment, one of the original units in the United States military, returned from a yearlong deployment in Afghanistan.

Sgt. 1st Class Paul Brady of the 182nd Infantry Massachusetts National Guard embraces his 6-year-old daughter, Regan, during a welcome home ceremony in Melrose, Massachusetts. The 182nd Infantry Regiment, one of the original units in the United States military, returned from a yearlong deployment in Afghanistan.

Palestinian youths practice their parkour skills in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Parkour athletes run along a route, using obstacles to propel themselves.

Palestinian youths practice their parkour skills in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Parkour athletes run along a route, using obstacles to propel themselves.

Meditating monks at Pongour Falls in Dalat, Vietnam.

Meditating monks at Pongour Falls in Dalat, Vietnam.

Multiple takeoffs at Hannover Airport in Germany.

Multiple takeoffs at Hannover Airport in Germany.

Taxis sit in a flooded lot in Hoboken, New Jersey, after Hurricane Sandy devastated the region.

Taxis sit in a flooded lot in Hoboken, New Jersey, after Hurricane Sandy devastated the region.

The sun is obscured by the moon during an annular solar eclipse in Tokyo.

The sun is obscured by the moon during an annular solar eclipse in Tokyo.

Mount Rainier casting a shadow on clouds.

Mount Rainier casting a shadow on clouds.

Shuttle Endeavour is transported to The Forum arena for a stopover and celebration in Inglewood, California. The space shuttle was on 12-mile journey from the Los Angeles International Airport to the California Science Center to go on permanent public display.

Shuttle Endeavour is transported to The Forum arena for a stopover and celebration in Inglewood, California. The space shuttle was on 12-mile journey from the Los Angeles International Airport to the California Science Center to go on permanent public display.

Icebergs from nearby glaciers float in the bay in Narsaq, Greenland.

Icebergs from nearby glaciers float in the bay in Narsaq, Greenland.

Aerialist Nik Wallenda walks the tightrope over Niagara Falls in Canada. Wallenda walked across the 1,800-feet-long, 2-inch-wide wire as the first person to cross directly over the falls from the United States into Canada.

Aerialist Nik Wallenda walks the tightrope over Niagara Falls in Canada. Wallenda walked across the 1,800-feet-long, 2-inch-wide wire as the first person to cross directly over the falls from the United States into Canada.

(Photo credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)