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:

Jan 25, 2024Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales, United Kingdom
Mar 21, 2026Letea Forest, Danube Delta, Romania
Jul 7, 2024Rice terraces of Mù Cang Chải, Yên Bái province, Vietnam
Feb 27, 2024Polar bear cubs
Mar 14, 2025Dolmen of Sorginetxe, Spain
Jul 13, 2025Basalt columns in Kálfshamarsvík cove, Skagi peninsula, Iceland
Mar 21, 2025Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia
Feb 12, 2025Marine iguanas, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Aug 19, 2024Bufadero de la Garita, Gran Canaria, Spain
Apr 10, 2026Two young red foxes at Karula National Park, Estonia
Feb 15, 2025Icicles of Misotsuchi, Chichibu, Japan
Jan 28, 2026Whanganui National Park, Retaruke, New Zealand
Apr 5, 2025Gaztelugatxe islet at sunset, Basque Country, Spain
Nov 25, 2024Maasai giraffes
Apr 13, 2025Wat Tang Sai Temple, Thailand
Jun 22, 2024Amazon rainforest, Brazil
May 29, 2024Eurasian otters
Jul 5, 2025Cize-Bolozon viaduct, France
Sep 28, 2024Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida, USA
Jan 30, 2026St. Michaels Mount in Marazion, Cornwall, England
Apr 12, 2024Arches National Park, Utah, USA
Nov 21, 2023Grey seal pup
Sep 15, 2025Black-winged stilts, France
Feb 17, 2026Ochagavía, Navarre, Spain
May 10, 2025Castildetierra in the Bardenas Reales, Navarre, Spain
Aug 26, 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy
Feb 19, 2026Dragons Eye, Uttakleiv Beach, Norway
Nov 14, 2023Russell lupines, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
Aug 23, 2023Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland
Sep 6, 2025Rufous hummingbird