The top 10 trending news stories of 2017, according to Google

NOAA via AP)

From some of the most destructive hurricanes in recent memory to rising tensions between the US and North Korea, 2017 has been a whirlwind of a year.

On Wednesday, Google released its top trending searches of the year. These are searches that had the highest spike this year compared to 2016. Here are the year's top trending news stories in search:

10. DACA

On September 5, President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced plans to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a controversial Obama-era policy that shields from deportation nearly 800,000 young immigrants living in the country illegally after being brought to the US as minors.

The move drew backlash from Democrats and immigration activists, but lauded by many Republicans and those who believe US immigration laws are too lax.

DACA recipients are still in limbo as Congress has not yet agreed on a permanent legislative solution. Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham reintroduced the bipartisan Dream Act in September, but it hasn't gained much traction.

The young immigrants are likely to lose their protected status by March if nothing is done.

9. April the Giraffe

The 40-minute video of a giraffe giving birth at Animal Adventure Park in New York went viral in April.

At least 1.2 million people watched the Adventure Park's YouTube streaming of the event. The newborn was Animal Adventure Park's first giraffe calf.

8. Hurricane Maria

Of all the terrible storms this year, Hurricane Maria was the deadliest to strike the Caribbean, with more than 1,000 likely deaths in Puerto Rico, a US commonwealth inhabited by roughly 3.5 million American citizens. That estimated death toll stands in stark contrast to the island's official tally of 64.

Much of Puerto Rico is still without power as officials try to rebuild the island's electric grid, which was almost completely destroyed, back up again from scratch.