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
Mar 29, 2026Peggys Point Lighthouse, Atlantic Coast, Nova Scotia, Canada

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 26, 2026Lupine flowers in bloom, Northern California, USA
Aug 24, 2024Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, USA
Sept 18, 2026Winnats Pass, Peak District National Park, England
May 16, 2024Ria de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
Oct 10, 2026Double-crested cormorants over Monterey Bay, California, USA
Dec 22, 2023Castlerigg Stone Circle, Cumbria, United Kingdom
Feb 6, 2024Lake Tahoe
Sep 20, 2024Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, USA
Aug 7, 2024St. Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer Lights, Michigan, USA
Sep 6, 2025Rufous hummingbird
Apr 25, 2024Adélie penguins, Antarctica
Aug 4, 2025Great grey owls
Oct 11, 2026Glade Creek Grist Mill, Babcock State Park, West Virginia, USA
May 25, 2025Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Feb 23, 2025Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi, Japan
Dec 10, 2023Llyn Padarn lake, Snowdonia, Wales
Aug 2, 2024Saint-François, Guadeloupe, Caribbean
Nov 3, 2023Pacific sea nettle jellyfish
Mar 26, 2025Manatee in Crystal River, Florida, United States
June 23, 2026Mount Fuji on Honshu Island, Japan
Jan 6, 2026Nuuk, Greenland
Nov 2, 2026Polar bear and cubs by Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada
Mar 27, 2026Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Sept 28, 2026Amber Fort near Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
July 30, 2026Monument Valley, Navajo Nation, Arizona, United States
Aug 26, 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy
Oct 26, 2023Schönbrunn Palace Park, Vienna, Austria
Oct 16, 2026Mount Sneffels in the San Juan Mountains near Ridgway, Colorado
Aug 18, 2025Avalanche Lake Trail at Adirondack High Peaks, New York, United States
Jun 15, 2025Lesser rheas, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile