Bing Wallpaper Gallery
Canada Day
On July 1, Canada celebrates its national day, marking the events of 1867, when the British North America Act (now called the Constitution Act, 1867) united three British colonies into one Dominion.
Bing Images archive 2026/07
Ceiling of the Temple of Esna, Egypt
At the Temple of Esna, south of Luxor, Egypt, visitors enter a vivid world devoted to Khnum, the ram-headed god believed to have moulded humanity from Nile clay. Built mainly during the Ptolemaic and Roman eras, the temple"s surviving hall is supported by 24 towering columns, each carved with intricate reliefs and ritual texts honouring various deities.
Fireflies glowing above a stream, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
In Okayama Prefecture, when humid air settles over a stream, hotaru—Japan"s fireflies—begin signalling. On warm, windless evenings, they often start glowing about two hours after sunset under favourable conditions, inviting silence beside water.
Kaysersberg, Alsace, France
On July 4, the Tour de France begins in Barcelona—perfect timing to spotlight northeastern France and the Alsace village of Kaysersberg. Set along the Weiss River, about 12 kilometres northwest of Colmar, this historic town lies on the eastern slopes of the Vosges Mountains.
Lavender rows, Plateau de Valensole, Provence, France
In southeastern France, on the Valensole Plateau, summer arrives in waves of purple and blue. Valensole—one of the largest plateaus in the region—lies in the Verdon Regional Natural Park between the Durance and Asse valleys, near the Gorges du Verdon and its lakes. From mid-June to early July, depending on altitude and weather, lavender and lavandin bloom and transform the landscape into one of Provence"s most recognisable sights. The air carries a sharp, dry and unmistakably Mediterranean scent.
Syracuse, Sicily, Italy
Founded by Greek settlers from Corinth around 734 BCE, the Italian city of Syracuse, on the island of Sicily, grew into one of the ancient Mediterranean"s great powers and is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, "Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica." It is forever linked to Archimedes, whose genius still shapes its identity, and to Plato, who came to Syracuse hoping philosophy might shape political life. That layered past still feels tangible at Castello Maniace, a seafront fortress built for Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in the 13th century, which can still be admired today.
Plate-billed mountain toucan with orchids, Ecuador
A bill like a multitool and plumage full of colour—the plate-billed mountain toucan is one of the Andes" most distinctive birds. It lives in the humid mountain forests of Ecuador and southwestern Colombia, perfectly adapted to life high in the canopy.
Sunrise at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Set in Guatemala"s western highlands, Lake Atitlán fills a vast volcanic caldera. Its deep blue waters are framed by steep crater walls and the cone-shaped volcanoes Atitlán, Tolimán and San Pedro. Wooden piers stretch into the still lake, emphasising the contrast between its calm surface and the rugged terrain shaped by volcanic activity.
Rice fields at Sapa, Lào Cai, Vietnam
Sunlight cuts through drifting clouds and settles on the terraced slopes of Sapa, where rice fields cascade down the mountainsides like a living staircase. Located in Vietnam"s Lào Cai province, this highland region is shaped as much by human hands as by nature. Generations of farmers from local ethnic communities such as the Hmong have carved and maintained these terraces for centuries, guiding water across steep hillsides to sustain each growing season.
Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, British Columbia
Some places are best introduced with one word: Yoho. It is a Cree expression of wonder, which is exactly the reaction most people have. Established in 1886, Yoho National Park protects part of the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia. Visitors can stop at Takakkaw Falls, where water plunges more than 370 metres, or explore the world-famous Burgess Shale fossil sites. These rocks preserve the remains of marine animals that lived more than 500 million years ago.
Boneyard Beach, Hunting Island, South Carolina, United States
At Boneyard Beach within Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina, United States, the first thing you notice is the trees. Then comes the question: why are bleached trunks and exposed roots scattered across the sand like a scene paused midway through collapse? Since the 1980s, Hunting Island has experienced major beach erosion, with some of the highest rates along the US East Coast—reaching up to 9 metres per year in certain areas.
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine, USA
If you"re looking for Maine at its most untamed, this is it. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument stretches across more than 350 square kilometres of the rugged North Woods, where quiet ponds mirror the sky and dense forests seem to swallow sound.
International Rock Day
International Rock Day, observed on 13 July, celebrates the geological building blocks beneath our feet and the stories they preserve. From ancient tools to towering mountains, rocks reveal clues about shifting continents, changing climates and the evolution of life over millions of years. Few places showcase nature"s artistry as vividly as Antelope Canyon on Navajo Nation land in Arizona, seen in today"s image. Formed as flash floods gradually eroded Navajo Sandstone over thousands of years, the canyon"s graceful, curving walls showcase the slow but relentless force of nature.
Shark Awareness Day
On July 14, Shark Awareness Day asks us to trade movie panic for ocean truth. Sharks have patrolled the seas for more than 420 million years, and as apex predators, they help keep marine ecosystems in balance.
Marie Lake, John Muir Wilderness near Bishop, California, USA
If mountains could keep a record of the past, the John Muir Wilderness near Bishop, California, would have plenty to share. Its valleys, lakes and granite formations reveal a history shaped over millions of years. Established in 1964, this vast protected area spans more than 2,630 square kilometres of the Sierra Nevada and is named after naturalist John Muir. Today, parts of the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail pass through the area, drawing hikers into one of the largest high-elevation wilderness regions in the contiguous United States.
Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Some places are built for a single purpose; others keep reinventing themselves. Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, United States, falls into the second category. The structure stretches more than 915 metres into the lake and was designed as part of Edward H. Bennett"s and Daniel Burnham"s 1909 Plan of Chicago. Opened in 1916, the pier was built for shipping, recreation and passenger travel on Lake Michigan. It was renamed Navy Pier in honour of World War I naval veterans.
Agriculture in Saskatchewan
Picture a farmer watching dark clouds build over the Saskatchewan plains. The crops have already been harvested, but the weather still matters. Where does the grain go next? Often, into grain elevators and storage bins beside fields and railway lines, where it stays protected from rain, moisture and the powerful prairie storms that can arrive with little warning. These storage structures have supported Saskatchewan agriculture for generations, helping to preserve grain quality until it is ready for transport or sale. This is one reason the province has earned the nickname "Canada"s breadbasket."
Devils Bridge, Kromlau, Saxony, Germany
Reflected in still water, the Rakotzbrücke—commonly known as the Devil"s Bridge—forms a near-perfect stone circle in Saxony, Germany. Commissioned in 1860, the narrow basalt structure was carefully engineered so that its arch and reflection align to form a seamless ring when the lake is still. Made from basalt, a volcanic rock, it reflects precise design rather than practical function, its striking geometry intended purely for visual effect. A popular photo subject, it has also appeared in films, including "The Matrix Resurrections" (2021). Today, the fragile bridge can only be admired from the shore, as crossing is prohibited to preserve it.
Barn swallows of different subspecies resting together
Perched on slender reeds, a group of barn swallows gathers in a moment of stillness that contrasts with their usual speed. Known for swift, acrobatic flight and deeply forked tails, these birds are built for life on the wing. They catch insects midair and travel vast distances between continents. Subtle variations in colour and markings suggest that more than one subspecies may be present, reflecting the barn swallow"s extensive global range.
International Moon Day
From the moon"s cratered surface, Earth appears as a thin, glowing crescent against the darkness—a rare view that reverses our usual perspective. This stark landscape, shaped by billions of years of impacts, preserves a record of the early solar system. July 20 marks International Moon Day, commemorating the 1969 Apollo 11 landing, when humans first set foot on the lunar surface. Established by the United Nations in 2021, the day highlights past achievements and ongoing efforts to explore the moon.
Santa Catalina Arch, Antigua, Guatemala
Some structures weren"t meant to stand out—but time had other ideas. At sunrise, the Santa Catalina Arch glows over the streets of Antigua, Guatemala, its yellow façade catching the light just right as cobblestones stretch ahead and Agua Volcano rises in the distance. The arch was built in the 17th century to solve a practical problem: cloistered nuns needed to cross between convent buildings without being seen from the street. Privacy, not postcards, created one of Central America"s most photographed landmarks. Irony holds up well over time.
