Icebergs, Antarctica Dec 1, 2024

The name "Antarctica" is derived from Ancient Greek word "antarktikos," meaning opposite the Arctic. The concept of an "Antarctic region" was first mentioned by Greek philosopher Aristotle around 350 BCE. Despite this early reference, it wasn"t until the 19th century that humans actually laid eyes on Antarctica. It is the coldest, driest and windiest of the Earth"s continents, with temperatures plunging as low as -80 degrees Celsius. Vast ice sheets and glaciers found here hold about 70% of the world"s fresh water. The waters are dotted with icebergs, as seen in today"s image, which drift across the Southern Ocean and gradually melt over time. Species like Emperor and Adélie penguins, along with seals, mites, roundworms and moss piglets, have made this icy habitat their permanent home.

© Art Wolfe/DanitaDelimont.com

palette

Today in History

Dec 1, 2023Jasper National Park, Canada
Dec 1, 2025Natural arch carved in an iceberg, Antarctica

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov 3, 2025Jellyfish, Guerrero, Mexico
Jun 30, 2025Wolfe Creek Crater, Australia
Oct 21, 2025Cap dAntibes, Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur, France
Jul 25, 2024Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA
Jan 3, 2025Radcliffe Camera and All Souls College, University of Oxford, England
Sep 26, 2023Venice Skatepark, Los Angeles, California, USA
Apr 28, 2025Impala in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Nov 12, 2025Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Dec 10, 2023Llyn Padarn lake, Snowdonia, Wales
Jan 19, 2024Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Apr 16, 2025Kachina Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, United States
May 18, 2025Pont St-Pierre across the Garonne River, Toulouse, France
May 8, 2024Château dIf, Marseille, France
Oct 31, 2024Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, United Kingdom
May 17, 2024African elephants, Tanzania
Aug 9, 2024Inca ruin of Sacsayhuamán near Cusco, Peru
Dec 20, 2025Red fox
Nov 13, 2025Quiver trees, Namibia
Oct 9, 2024Aspens near Marble, Colorado, USA
Oct 30, 2023Common raven
Feb 4, 2026Red kite in snow
Mar 24, 2026Königssee Lake, Bavaria, Germany
Mar 26, 2026Logan Creek Suspension Bridge, West Coast Trail, Canada
Sep 29, 2024West Cornwall Covered Bridge, Connecticut, USA
Jun 26, 2024Banggai cardinalfish
May 4, 2024The ruins of an ancient monastery, Skellig Michael, Ireland
Aug 10, 2025Lioness in Kenya
Apr 15, 2025Castillo de La Calahorra, Granada, Spain
Jun 29, 2025Blue lagoon of Pulau Ay, Banda Islands, Indonesia
Apr 29, 2025Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France