Take a look at this amazing collection of photos from National Geographic

National Geographic has been known for publishing breathtaking photos for 130 years. Now it has put together 200 of its most spectacular images in a collection chosen by the organization's editors.

The photos depict an array of marvels ranging from a shark feeding frenzy in the depths of the ocean to the blue blaze of burning sulfur to lava during a volcano eruption. The collection, available for sale, is called Spectacle: Rare and Astonishing Photographs.

“The photography in these pages wasn’t easy to achieve," award-winning National Geographic staff photographer Mark Thiessen wrote in a foreword. "Each shot took planning, commitment, dogged determination and sometimes dumb luck … and a little bit of magic.” 

The collection provides viewers close-up views of a desert sandstorm, blue ice cave and roaring wildfire. There are images of fascinating cultures, intricate gardens and great migrations. Some odd-ball photos include a 20-foot steel boar from the Burning Man festival and a cruise ship converted into a Hong Kong shopping mall.

Thiessen is known for taking spectacular shots of his own. In 1996, he began a project of documenting wildfires every summer and became a certified firefighter so he could be on the front lines photographing the destructive blazes.