Welcome to the highly competitive sport of aquascaping - PHOTO+VIDEO

Trees seem to reach up to the sky in a lush green rainforest and the horizon stretches away into the distance. But everything is not as it seems as a tiny fish darts across one of the 'landscapes' pictured.In fact, these forest and hillside scenes are created entirely underwater for a competition.The incredible marine artworks are entries into this year's competitive aquascaping contest. Designers use fern-like plants and grasses to create eye-catching scenes which only the resident fish give away as being immersed in water.Some designs include cactus-like plants and rocks recreating a 'desert' scene and others show a 'beach' complete with fish that look as though they are floating above the sand. International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest annually ranks hundreds of competitors from around the world with Asian and Eastern European countries generally dominating the top slots.The world of competitive aquarium design, or aquascaping, is just as difficult, expensive, and cutthroat as any other sport but requires expertise in many different fields to guarantee success. Aquarium designers have to master biology, design, photography as well as having huge amounts of patience. Individual aquascapes can take months if not years to fully mature into a completed landscape.Last year's competition has received 2,164 applications from 57 countries and the organisers are expecting more before the closing date of May 31 this year.The 2013 top prize went to Truong Thinh Ngo, of Vietnam, and the top-placed Brit was Stu Worrall, a photographer from Cheshire, in 82nd place. The winner will received one million Japanese Yen, about £5,800, as well as a certificate and award.(dailymail.co.uk)ANN.Az