Photos of the week: 4/24 - 5/1

This week was packed with huge news stories, from the tragic earthquake and avalanche in Nepal, to both peaceful protests and violent riots in Freddie Gray's name in Baltimore and beyond. Click through the slideshow above to see the most beautiful and dramatic photos from these huge events and more, and check back next week for the best shots from the coming days.

An image depicting shells on a dried, cracked surface, which used to be the bottom of an irrigation ditch, revealed the scope of the severe drought plaguing California for the past four years. Farmers are struggling to keep their crops watered, as wells dry and government water allocations have been reduced.

If you missed them, check out the best photos from last week's biggest stories:

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