South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead, Wales, UK Mar 29, 2024

Built on the rugged cliffs of Holy Island, Wales, the South Stack Lighthouse stands watch over the deep waters of the Irish Sea. The 28-metre-tall white tower has guided sailors since its completion in 1809; it provides safe passage for ships on the Dublin-Holyhead-Liverpool route. When it was built, sperm whale oil was used to light the lamps; however, over the years, the mechanism has been upgraded to more advanced technology like LED bulbs and Fresnel lenses. Automated in 1984, the lighthouse continues to serve as a vital navigational aid, with its powerful beam shining up to 45 kilometres. As the sun sets and the sky fills with colours, the silhouette of the South Stack Lighthouse in the dusk makes for a stunning sight. Visitors brave the 400-step descent down the steep cliff face to explore the lighthouse, including its engine room and exhibition area.

© mariotlr/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Mar 29, 2025Superbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 2, 2024Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho, USA
Mar 26, 2025Manatee in Crystal River, Florida, United States
Sep 5, 2025Santa Monica Pier
Jul 2, 2025Spine-cheeked anemonefish
Dec 15, 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
Jun 24, 2025Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah, United States
Apr 11, 2025Tulips, Netherlands
Dec 24, 2024Half-timbered Houses of Freudenberg, Germany
Jun 1, 2025Barrier reef off Grande Terre, New Caledonia, France
Dec 20, 2023Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy
Nov 18, 2025Male hooded merganser
Jun 6, 2024Greater flamingos at Pont de Gau Ornithological Park, Camargue, France
Jan 16, 2025Pinnacles National Park, California, United States
Apr 20, 2025Yellow warbler in Canada
Feb 22, 2024Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia
Aug 23, 2024Prasat Phanom Rung temple ruins, Thailand
May 31, 2025Knuthöjdsmossen nature reserve, Sweden
Dec 30, 2024Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia
Jan 8, 2024Bernina Pass, Graubünden, Switzerland
Jun 14, 2025Cinque Torri, Dolomites, Italy
Jun 13, 2024Registan Square, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Sep 23, 2023Coyote Gulch, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah, USA
Jul 3, 2025Rainbow River, Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida, United States
Jan 25, 2024Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales, United Kingdom
Jul 11, 2025Tokyo at sunrise, Japan
Dec 27, 2024Lake Bled, Slovenia
Sep 22, 2023Marsala salt pans, Italy
Oct 14, 2024Coco Beach, Goa, India
Mar 19, 2025A black heron canopy hunting in Botswana
Oct 2, 2023Verdon Gorge, France