Skaftafell, Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland Sep. 24, 2024

In Iceland"s Skaftafell, autumn isn"t just a season—it"s an experience. From glaciers to waterfalls, like the one featured here today, to northern lights, this area in Vatnajökull National Park is a showcase of nature"s raw beauty. Skaftafell, once a thriving farm and now a preservation area, has been formed over thousands of years by the fierce interplay of volcanic fire and glacial water. Here, the glacier Skaftafellsjökull, a branch of Vatnajökull—the second largest ice cap in Europe—stretches out like a frozen river, inviting visitors for guided hikes. Then there"s Svartifoss, another waterfall in the park, fed by glacial meltwater.

© Nopasorn Kowathanakul/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Starry, starry night
Sep. 24, 2023World Rivers Day
Sep. 24, 2025Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, United States
Sep 24, 2026Black lava beach, El Golfo, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec. 8, 2025Christmas lights on buildings of Domaso, Lake Como, Italy
Aug. 24, 2023Shark Fin Cove, California
This lake is no mirage
A glowing square of squares
Oct. 15, 2023European hedgehog
Aug 3, 2026Colourful boats in Marsaxlokk Harbour, Malta
Oct 27, 2026A grove of pond cypress trees with fall foliage, Georgia, USA
Aug. 26, 2024Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Central Pacific Ocean
Sep. 19, 2023Splügen Pass, Switzerland
Sep. 3, 2025Grizzly bears at Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska, United States
Park of the Monsters
Postcard from the Canadian Rockies
Oct 16, 2026Jasper Dark Sky Festival is here
Jul. 29, 2025International Tiger Day
May 17, 2026Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, United States
Jun 8, 2026World Oceans Day
Jul 2, 2026Ceiling of the Temple of Esna, Egypt
Sep. 18, 2023Milky Way over Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park
World Hippo Day, a giant celebration
Pride and Joy
Aug 21, 2026Canadian National Exhibition begins
Apr. 14, 2026Common clownfish in a sea anemone, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia
Eyes on the skies
Apr. 29, 2024Fujian Tulou, China
Mar. 3, 2024World Wildlife Day
Nov. 1, 2023Kenny Lake, Lake Superior Provincial Park
Sep. 3, 2024Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, United States
Oct 15, 2026Market Square from the Witches Bridge, Wroclaw, Poland
Mar. 2, 2025Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains National Park, NSW, Australia
Oct 2, 2026Chattooga River in the Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina, USA