1. Top: Great White Shark. Photo credit: Mauricio Handler.
2. Bottom: Short-Tail Stingray. Photo credit: Brian J. Skerry.

Happy World Oceans Day!  In honor of oceans, we’re featuring these stunning ocean photos courtesy of National Geographic.

Says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

“World Oceans Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of oceans to humankind’s sustainable development…The ecosystem functions that oceans provide, and their importance to the global economy, deserve particular attention as we look ahead to next year’s “Rio+20” United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development…The theme of this year’s observance is “Our oceans: greening our future.”

Here are more ocean photos via National Geographic:

Lion’s Mane Jellyfish. Photo credit: Paul Nicklen, National Geographic.

Caribbean Fire Coral. Photo credit: Brian J. Skerry.

Male, Maldives. Photo credit: Peter Essick, Aurora Photos.

Images courtesy of National Geographic.