The Portuguese island of Madeira—about 965 kilometres southwest of mainland Portugal—hides a forest unlike any other. On its northern slopes lies Fanal Forest, where veils of mist drift through centuries-old til trees. These are part of the Laurissilva of Madeira—an outstanding relict of a once widespread laurel forest type. Laurissilva is the largest surviving area of its kind, with about 90% considered primary forest. Home to a unique array of plants and animals, including endemic species such as the Madeiran long-toed pigeon, it remains a living museum of natural history.
Ancient til trees in Fanal Forest, Madeira, Portugal
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, Lamphun, Thailand
-
Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
-
Sibiu Christmas Market, Romania
-
Crystal Pier, San Diego, California, United States
-
Porto Flavia, Sulcis-Iglesiente, Sardinia, Italy
-
West Indian manatee mother and baby
-
Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia
-
Giant cuttlefish, Whyalla, South Australia, Australia
-
Grizzly bears
-
Peach trees in Cieza, Murcia, Spain
-
Hawksbill sea turtle pair, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
-
Boneyard Beach, Hunting Island, South Carolina, United States
-
Lightning and storm clouds at sunset near Bowman, Nebraska, United States
-
Beech trees and anemone wildflowers, Jutland, Denmark
-
Huangshan Mountains, China
-
Christmas market in Leipzig, Germany
-
Piz Nair mountain, Switzerland
-
Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, Australia
-
Caribbean flamingos, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
-
Birch trees, Drammen, Norway
-
Family of ashy woodswallows
-
Mount Segla, Senja Island, Norway
-
Dolbadarn Castle, Llanberis, Wales
-
Giant anteater
-
Baia del Silenzio in Sestri Levante, Italy
-
St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest, Hungary
-
Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
-
Honey bee on lavender flowers
-
Sunrise at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
-
Northern gannets, Shetland Islands, Scotland
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

