Porto Flavia, Sulcis-Iglesiente, Sardinia, Italy May 14, 2025

Most ports rely on docks and cranes that extend into the shoreline. Porto Flavia in the Sulcis-Iglesiente region, however, took a completely different approach. This engineering marvel transformed a cliff into a gateway for Sardinia"s ore industry. Mining in Sulcis-Iglesiente has a history dating back thousands of years, from the Phoenicians and Romans to the industrial boom in the 20th century. Lead, zinc, coal, sulphur, barium and silver were extracted from these rugged hills, but transporting them was a logistical nightmare. Ore had to be hauled by cart, loaded onto small boats and then transferred to larger ships—a slow, costly and inefficient process.

© Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

May 14, 2024Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, USA
May 14, 2026Pitigliano, Tuscany, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Aug 16, 2026Pedra Furada, Jericoacoara, Brazil
Jan 30, 2024Ayna, Albacete, Spain
Apr 10, 2025Red fox cubs near their den
Feb 24, 2025Giant cuttlefish, Whyalla, South Australia, Australia
Apr 25, 2026Galápagos penguins swimming, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Dec 19, 2025Bormio, Lombardy, Italy
Dec 1, 2025Natural arch carved in an iceberg, Antarctica
Dec 26, 2024Christmas lights at Mousehole harbour, Cornwall, England
Sep 13, 2024Point Reyes National Seashore
Sep 25, 2025Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
Sep 30, 2025Koala, Australia
Feb 14, 2026Bleeding hearts
Aug 15, 2024Hang Sơn Đoòng, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Vietnam
May 30, 2025Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States
June 28, 2026Saguaro cacti, Windgate Pass, McDowell Range, Arizona, USA
May 6, 2024Heidelberg on the river Neckar, Germany
Jan 9, 2024Rio Grande, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
May 6, 2026Thunderstorm above the plains, Bulgaria
Sep 15, 2023Glenariff Forest Park, County Antrim, Ireland
July 21, 2026Santa Catalina Arch, Antigua, Guatemala
Sep 25, 2023Sea otter, Glacier Bay, Alaska
Apr 21, 2024Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Oct 2, 2025Oxbow Bend on the Snake River, Wyoming, United States
Dec 13, 2024St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest, Hungary
Mar 15, 2025The Temple of Saturn, Rome, Italy
Mar 7, 2025Plum blossoms, China
Apr 30, 2025Iguazu Falls seen from Paraná, Brazil
Jan 15, 2024The Eiskapelle, Bavaria, Germany
Nov 21, 2025Harbour seals
Apr 7, 2026Beaver