In Pics | 2021's biggest records: Suez Canal, hottest month, biggest airlift and more

From soaring temperatures, Taliban takeover of Afghanistan to Messi and Ronaldo and Nepal's Kami Rita Sherpa's Everest record, here are some of the most significant records struck in 2021.

Suez Canal obstruction: The giant container ship Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal in March, bringing a halt to shipping for six days in one of the world's busiest waterways. The ship, almost as long as New York's Empire State Building, caused a record traffic jam of 422 ships loaded with 26 million tonnes of merchandise, worsening supply difficulties already disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Credit: AFP Photo

Taiwan ADIZ incursions: In October, the most dramatic Chinese incursion into disputed Taiwanese airspace occurred as China marked its annual national day when a record 149 flights crossed into Taiwan's southwestern air defence zone in four days. Credit: AFP Photo

Kabul airlift: The United States carried out its biggest ever airlift in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August. Reportedly, US airlifted more than 123,000 people out of Kabul, including US citizens, Afghan interpreters and others who supported the US mission. Credit: AFP Photo

Bitcoin soars to an all-time high: Cryptocurrency bitcoin soared to record levels in late 2021, being valued at $68,513 on November 9. The digital currency increasingly won support from small and large investors, some of whom see it as a way of protecting themselves against inflation, which hit a 30-year high in the US in October. Credit: Reuters Photo

Oldest person in space: Captain Kirk of

Messi, Ronaldo and records: Two of football's living legends, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina's Lionel Messi, rewrote the record books. Ronaldo became the top scorer of all time for a national team with 115 goals and also the most capped European, having been selected 184 times. Messi outstripped Brazil's Pele as the best Latin American striker with 79 goals for Argentina. Credit: AFP Photo

Kami Rita Sherpa breaks own record: Nepal's Kami Rita Sherpa beat his own record for climbing Everest, claiming a 25th successful ascent to the roof of the world in May. Credit: AFP Photo

Chloe McCardel crowned Queen of the English channel: Australia's Chloe McCardel became the person to have swum the Channel the most -- a remarkable 44 times. Credit: Instagram/chloemccardel

Soaring energy prices: As economies reopen from their Covid-induced slumber firing heightened gas demand, prices in Asian, European and British gas hit record peaks. Europe's reference Dutch TTF gas price hit 187.78 euros per megawatt hour. Credit: AFP Photo

Hottest month of 2021: July 2021 was the hottest month globally ever recorded, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Credit: Reuters Photo

Carbon dioxide emissions at record levels: Massive wildfires in Siberia, North America and around the Mediterranean caused record levels of CO2 emissions in July and August, the EU's Earth monitoring service said. Credit: Reuters Photo