25 of the most powerful images of 2020 capture a year we'll never forget

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Joey HaddenDec 19, 2020, 00:37 IST
25 of the most powerful images of 2020 capture a year we'll never forget

Reuters released its 2020 Pictures of the Year, and we selected 25 images that remind us what it was like to live through 2020.REUTERS/Kathleen Flynn

This year began in crisis with the Australia bushfires that burned more than 17.9 million acres of land.

By January 2, New South Whales declared a state of emergency - and Victoria a state of disaster - over bushfires that began in 2019 after the driest spring on record, Insider previously reported. About 18 million acres burned, Insider reported in February.

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Later in the year, wildfires ravaged the west coast of the US. More acres of California burned in 2020 than any year prior.

Later in the year, wildfires ravaged the west coast of the US. More acres of California burned in 2020 than any year prior.
A home was destroyed in the Glass Fire in St. Helena, California. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

The fires, which began in late July, burned 4 million acres of California by early October.

"The 4 million mark is unfathomable. It boggles the mind, and it takes your breath away," Scott McLean, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection known as Cal Fire, told The Associated Press.

Wildfires in Oregon broke records, too.

Wildfires in Oregon broke records, too.
Surrounded by red fire retardant, a search and rescue team looked for victims in Talent, Oregon, after the Alameda fire. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

Gov. Kate Brown said five towns in Oregon were destroyed in the fires at a news conference on September 9, Insider previously reported.

"This could be the greatest loss of human lives and property due to wildfire in our state's history," Brown said.

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Fires weren't the only natural disasters in 2020. In the Philippines, a volcano erupted on January 13, and more than a half-mile of ash shot up into the sky.

Fires weren't the only natural disasters in 2020. In the Philippines, a volcano erupted on January 13, and more than a half-mile of ash shot up into the sky.
A dog was left in a garage near the volcano in Talisay, Batangas. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

The volcano began emitting steam on January 12 and erupted the following day, Insider previously reported.

In Japan, a summer flood killed at least 50 people and destroyed parts of Japan's southern region of Kyushu.

In Japan, a summer flood killed at least 50 people and destroyed parts of Japan's southern region of Kyushu.
Floods following torrential rain damaged parts of Kumamura, Japan. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Days of continuous rain triggered the flood, The Associated Press reported on July 6.

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Also in 2020, deforestation in the Amazon continued to ravage the area.

Also in 2020, deforestation in the Amazon continued to ravage the area.
A portion of the Amazon jungle near Porto Velho was cleared in August. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

The Amazon's record-breaking 2019 fire season shed light on deforestation, where farmers clear sections of the forest for agriculture. Alberto Setzer, a senior scientist at Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE), told CNN that humans start 99% of fires in the Amazon.

In late 2020, deforestation in the Amazon increased.

While there was 6% less deforestation in the Amazon in the first 9 months of 2020 than the same time frame in 2019, in October 2020, deforestation rose 50% from the previous year, per Reuters.

Temperatures in Antarctica continued to increase this year, and these penguins' main source of food swam south, leaving them hungry.

Temperatures in Antarctica continued to increase this year, and these penguins' main source of food swam south, leaving them hungry.
Penguins floated on an iceberg near the Lemaire Channel in Antarctica. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

Chinstrap penguins eat krill, which moved south to cooler waters as the Arctic hit record-breaking temperatures in February 2020, Insider previously reported.

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Some records were broken in 2020. Billie Eilish, 18, became the youngest person ever to win the Grammy's Album of the Year.

Some records were broken in 2020. Billie Eilish, 18, became the youngest person ever to win the Grammy's Album of the Year.
Billie Eilish attended the 62nd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in January. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Billie Eilish won four more Grammy's in 2020, too, including song of the year for the hit "Bad Guy", best new artist, best pop vocal album, and record of the year, Insider reported in January.

This was a big year for the #MeToo movement as film producer Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act in February.

This was a big year for the #MeToo movement as film producer Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act in February.
Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial was in New York City in January. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Weinstein's early-2020 trial was a huge moment for #MeToo. He's the most notable figure that has been taken down by the movement, Vox reported in February.

At the same time, Weinstein was acquitted on the two most-serious charges that could have landed him a lifetime in prison, Insider previously reported.

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The most defining event of 2020 has been the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which began in Wuhan, China, and spread across the world.

The most defining event of 2020 has been the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which began in Wuhan, China, and spread across the world.
Medical workers cared for coronavirus patients in Wuhan, China in February. China Daily via REUTERS

Wuhan, China, went into quarantine on January 24 in light of the coronavirus, Insider previously reported.

The virus doesn't show symptoms in everyone, but it can be deadly. Insider reported that more than a million had died of illness related to the coronavirus in September.

Germany used helicopters and other equipment designed for war to transport critical coronavirus patients.

Germany used helicopters and other equipment designed for war to transport critical coronavirus patients.
Doctor Katharina Franz and paramedic Andreas Hankel, of the rescue helicopter "Christoph Giessen" reanimated a patient in April. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Transporting critical patients by helicopter as opposed to driving could be the difference between life and death, Reuters reported in the spring.

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The pandemic shed light on the importance of medical professionals and frontline workers across industries, from nurses to couriers.

The pandemic shed light on the importance of medical professionals and frontline workers across industries, from nurses to couriers.
Nurse Dilara Fahrioglu took care of coronavirus patients in Istanbul, Turkey. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

In the summer, healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic had to endure PPE shortages to fight the coronavirus, per Insider.

Many healthcare workers have died of the virus, while others have separated from their families to keep them safe.

Many healthcare workers have died of the virus, while others have separated from their families to keep them safe.
A health worker stood before the burial of a Central Reserve Police Force officer who died of illness related to the coronavirus. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Kaiser Health News and the Guardian reported that more nurses have died of coronavirus-related illness than any other healthcare professional, per Business Insider.

Millions of healthcare workers separated from their families to keep them safe after being exposed to the virus, Insider reported in the spring.

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Cities and countries worldwide shut down businesses and schools, leading to empty metropolises like New York City.

Cities and countries worldwide shut down businesses and schools, leading to empty metropolises like New York City.
An empty street is seen in NYC on March 15. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

As non-essential businesses shut their doors and people across the world were ordered to shelter-in-place in early-spring, cities like New York looked empty, Insider previously reported.

New York City was known as "Ground Zero" of the pandemic in the US, with daily death tolls exceeding 1,000 in April.

New York City was known as "Ground Zero" of the pandemic in the US, with daily death tolls exceeding 1,000 in April.
Bodies were buried on New York's Hart Island in April 2020. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

New York City has been called "Ground Zero" of the pandemic in the US. Unclaimed bodies of those who died of coronavirus were buried on New York's Hart Island, a mass graveyard, Business Insider reported in April.

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While people were ordered to stay home to prevent the spread, some people protested lockdowns. In some cases, healthcare workers showed up to counter their protests.

While people were ordered to stay home to prevent the spread, some people protested lockdowns. In some cases, healthcare workers showed up to counter their protests.
Workers stood in the street in counter-protest to hundreds of people who gathered to demand that lockdown orders be lifted. REUTERS/Alyson McClaran

While people in Denver protested the state's lockdown orders in the spring, healthcare workers stood silently in their way, Insider previously reported.

Amid quarantine and stay-at-home orders, people adapted to new ways of working and communicating.

Amid quarantine and stay-at-home orders, people adapted to new ways of working and communicating.
Triathlete Lloyd Bebbington trained in a pool in his garden at home in April 2020. REUTERS/Carl Recine

As spring turned to summer, athletes like Lloyd Bebbington found ways to train from home, Reuters reported.

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People found new ways to celebrate significant events from home, too.

People found new ways to celebrate significant events from home, too.
People carried a statue depicting Jesus Christ back inside after a rooftop Good Friday celebration. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Some Good Friday celebrations took place on rooftops while people nearby watched from their windows and balconies, Business Insider previously reported.

Another defining moment of the year was when police officers killed George Floyd, a Black man, and the world demanded justice.

Another defining moment of the year was when police officers killed George Floyd, a Black man, and the world demanded justice.
A woman cried as a horse-drawn carriage carried the casket containing the body of George Floyd. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

George Floyd's death in late-May involved four Minneapolis policemen, one of whom knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. Floyd's last words were "I can't breathe," Insider previously reported.

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Minneapolis erupted in protests following Floyd's death, and the world followed suit.

Minneapolis erupted in protests following Floyd's death, and the world followed suit.
Protesters demonstrated at the entrance of a police station in Minneapolis, Minnesota. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

In the summer, protests spread across the US and the world in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, from Europe, to Asia, to South America, Insider previously reported.

2020 was an election year full of heightened political tension.

2020 was an election year full of heightened political tension.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ripped up the State of the Union address. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

One unforgettable moment was the time House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped President Donald Trump's State of the Union address back in February.

She ripped it after he was finished speaking, Business Insider previously reported. Before the speech, Trump appeared to refuse a handshake from Pelosi.

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More US citizens voted in the 2020 presidential election than ever before, and some faced wait times of up to six hours

More US citizens voted in the 2020 presidential election than ever before, and some faced wait times of up to six hours
Voters waited in a long line to cast their ballots at Church of the Servant in Oklahoma. REUTERS/Nick Oxford

People who voted on Super Tuesday waited as long as six hours to cast their ballots, Insider previously reported.

President-elect Joe Biden earned at least 80 million votes in 2020, per NPR.

This photo of a Black woman and her son trying to stay safe while voting went viral in October, and some are calling it "the photo of 2020."

This photo of a Black woman and her son trying to stay safe while voting went viral in October, and some are calling it "the photo of 2020."
Dana Clark and her 18-month-old son Mason waited in line at City Hall during early voting in New Orleans. REUTERS/Kathleen Flynn

"This is everything, everything that is going on in America with Black people,'" Dana Clark, the woman pictured, told BuzzFeed News during voting season. "It shows the compassion of a mother wanting a better life for her child, standing in line to vote, because this is the only option she has left."

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Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election in November, making Sen. Kamala Harris the first female, Black, and Asian American vice president-elect in US history.

Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election in November, making Sen. Kamala Harris the first female, Black, and Asian American vice president-elect in US history.
President-elect Joe Biden, his wife Jill, vice president-elect Kamala Harris, and her husband, Doug, reacted to their win. REUTERS/Jim Bourg

"Bringing Black and South Asian representation to the table, her lived experiences as a woman of color and a daughter of immigrants will offer a point of view in the White House the likes of which this country has never seen," Christian Nunes, the president of the National Organization for Women, previously told Business Insider.

On the evening of November 5, major news organizations cut away from President Donal Trump's White House address to correct false information.

On the evening of November 5, major news organizations cut away from President Donal Trump's White House address to correct false information.
President Donald Trump departed after speaking on November 5. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

President Donald Trump told the country that the election was stolen from him during the address in early November, prompting ABC, CBS, and NBC to cut away from the speech to let people know that the information was false, Business Insider previously reported.

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