Every day at 5pm the Sifter posts the Picture of the Day. Below you will find a collection of the Sifter’s Top 50 from 2011. It’s hard to imagine the year is almost over, time seems to fly faster each successive year so it’s fun to take a moment and look back at the year that was. Click any of the pictures below to be taken to the individual post to learn more about the photographer and picture taken. Enjoy and stay sifty my friends!

Shanghai 1990 vs 2010

Photograph via Reddit

Protests in Egypt

Busiest. Train. Ever.

The Blue Lagoon, Ecuador

Meanwhile in Chicago…

Best. Sidecar. Ever

The World Press Photo of the Year

The U.S. – Mexico Border

Awww Yeah Flowers!

Certified Badass

Die for the Money

A Castle in Miami?

Rago National Park, Norway

Photograph via Reddit

Wheeeeee!

Photograph via Reddit

Incredible Water Bridge in Germany

Photograph by WHITEDRAGON

Vintage Daredevils

Epic Aerial of Barcelona, Spain

The Sky Walker

Photograph by photo61guy

Watching History Unfold

‘Crystal’ Ice Cave in Skaftafell, Iceland

Festival of Lanterns in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Fields of Lavender in Provence, France

Yarn Bombing in Germany

Photograph by DPA

Courageous Kitty

The Runaway Tree

Photograph via Reddit

Lovers in a Dangerous Time

70 Lightning Strikes in One Shot

This Dollar Bill Looks Fishy

The Craziest Illusion in Paris

A Nation Mourns

Ladybug Lands with Style

Space Graffiti

The Edge of Earth – Bunda Cliffs of Australia

Photograph via Reddit

Stargazing

The World’s Largest LAN Party

The World’s Oldest Marathon Runner

Photograph via Reddit

Instant Vertigo Acrophobia

Livin’ on the Edge

The Stunning Glasswinged Butterfly

Photograph by SWAMIBU

Lightning Show at the Grand Canyon

The Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve in Texas

Wait For It…

Sunset on Mars

Cloud City Dubai

Autumn in the Adirondacks

European Beech Trees of Mariemont, Belgium

The Inhabited Volcanic Island of Aogashima

The Great Grey Owl

The Cloud Covered Island of Litla Dimun

The Miniature Northern Saw-whet Owl