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

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

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:

Sep 13, 2023Hemakuta Hill, Hampi, India
May 26, 2025Hozugawa River in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Sep 27, 2024Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy
Jul 20, 2024The Moon
Oct 14, 2023Ring of fire solar eclipse
Mar 1, 2026Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain
Mar 2, 2024Modica, Sicily, Italy
Sep 15, 2025Black-winged stilts, France
Jan 27, 2025Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States
Mar 28, 2024Cherry blossoms in Shanghai, China
May 22, 2024Tasmanian snow gum, Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia
Jan 30, 2024Ayna, Albacete, Spain
Nov 16, 2023Athens and the Acropolis, Greece
Jan 30, 2026St. Michaels Mount in Marazion, Cornwall, England
Jan 22, 2025Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
Mar 12, 2025Château de Sully-sur-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, France
Sep 26, 2025Least chipmunk
Dec 8, 2023La Rocque Harbour, Island of Jersey
Apr 15, 2024Château de Chambord, France
Mar 5, 2024Bangkok, Thailand
Oct 21, 2024Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia, United States
Apr 17, 2025Andean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador
Mar 23, 2024Large anvil clouds, Amazon, Brazil
Jan 16, 2025Pinnacles National Park, California, United States
Feb 26, 2026Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, Arizona, United States
Jan 4, 2026Kings Mountain, Chugach Mountains, Alaska, United States
Feb 20, 2026Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Mar 3, 2026African elephant calf, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Nov 20, 2024Pont de pierre, Bordeaux, France
Apr 27, 2024Leucistic Annas hummingbird