Temple of the Sun, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States Dec 18, 2025

Rock layers formed over millions of years and a massive bend in the Earth"s crust give this desert a rare window into geologic history. This is Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, where sandstone cliffs and canyons preserve a striking record of the planet"s past. It was designated as a national park in 1971. Today"s featured image highlights the sandstone monoliths of Cathedral Valley, including the Temple of the Sun, part of this extraordinary, protected landscape.

© Austin Cronnelly/TANDEM Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Dec 18, 2023Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA
Dec 18, 2024Jim Corbett National Park, India

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 13, 2026Vale of Clwyd, Wales
May 1, 2025Plumeria flowers, Hawaii, United States
Sep 1, 2023Turkey tail mushroom
May 22, 2025Baobab trees at sunset, Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar
May 27, 2024Baia del Silenzio in Sestri Levante, Italy
Jul 9, 2024Talampaya National Park, Argentina
Nov 5, 2024Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
Aug 8, 2025The Three Musketeers Falls at Iguazú Falls, Argentina
Dec 5, 2025Maya site of Copán, Honduras
Nov 14, 2025Mother manatee and calf
Apr 13, 2025Wat Tang Sai Temple, Thailand
Oct 23, 2025Snow leopards, India
Jun 11, 2024A group of Southern gemsbok in the savannah, Botswana, USA
May 20, 2025Honey bee on lavender flowers
Jul 19, 2025Luna moth
Jul 5, 2024Daintree Rainforest and Noah Beach, Queensland, Australia
Jul 12, 2024Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA
Sep 25, 2024Giant sequoias, Sequoia National Park, California, USA
Feb 16, 2024Pyrrhuloxia bird
Apr 5, 2025Gaztelugatxe islet at sunset, Basque Country, Spain
Nov 28, 2025Val Brandet, Brescia, Lombardy, Italy
Jul 1, 2025Fishing village of Tilting, Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Nov 3, 2023Pacific sea nettle jellyfish
Oct 23, 2024Madame Sherri Forest, New Hampshire, United States
Oct 9, 2024Aspens near Marble, Colorado, USA
Mar 29, 2025Superbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, United States
Sep 23, 2024Sea otter, Alaska, USA
May 25, 2025Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Feb 28, 2025Taktsang Palphug Monastery, Bhutan
Aug 6, 2025Ring-tailed lemur