Top environmental photos of 2011

Reuters chooses pictures depicting the top environmental stories of the year.

The Grand Prismatic Spring 311 (photo credit: REUTERS/Jim Urquhart)
The Grand Prismatic Spring 311
(photo credit: REUTERS/Jim Urquhart)
Earthquakes, tsunamis and flooding seemed to be a recurring theme in this year's biggest environmental stories. In early January, Australia's state of Queensland was majorly flooded, with about three quarters of the region evacuated. Japan's 9.0 magnitude earthquake in March - the biggest that country has ever seen, as well as the most expensive natural disaster - saw over 15,000 deaths and 5,000 injuries throughout the region.
Other photos include one of a Philippino man wading through trashy water after a fire decimated over 500 houses in April in Manila, and a youngster waving goodbye to Discovery, the space shuttle launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral on February 24.