Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan Jan. 22, 2025

Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan

Carved into rose-red cliffs, Petra and its crown jewel, Ad-Deir, or "The Monastery," feel like stepping into a real-life Indiana Jones adventure. Tucked in the heart of Jordan"s arid desert landscapes, this ancient city once thrived as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom in the 2nd century BCE. It was also a hub of the spice trade, connecting distant regions like China, Egypt, Greece and India. The city was abandoned for around 500 years before being rediscovered in 1812, earning it the "Lost City" moniker.

© Punnawit Suwuttananun/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Hop into Lunar New Year
Jan. 22, 2024Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Jan. 22, 2026Karlovy Vary, Bohemia, Czechia

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun 12, 2026European bee-eater, Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, Cádiz, Spain
Oct. 16, 2024Fossils of belemnites and ammonites, Jurassic Coast, UK
Sep. 30, 2025Koala in the Great Otway National Park, Australia
Mar. 12, 2025Château de Sully-sur-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, France
Feb. 20, 2024Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, UK
Jun. 16, 2024Happy Fathers Day!
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Isn’t this view mesmerizing?
Oct 1, 2026Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Sep 1, 2026Horsehair parachute fungus, Belarus
Dec. 29, 2024Borobudur temple, Java, Indonesia
Sep. 20, 2024Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, USA
May 5, 2025Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile
Sep 9, 2026Gabit Keni Beach near Ankola, Karnataka, India
Sep. 6, 2025Rufous hummingbird
Feb. 13, 2025Lake Tyrrell, Victoria, Australia
Dad on duty
‘Night shining’ clouds
Jul 7, 2026Plate-billed mountain toucan with orchids, Ecuador
Nov. 21, 2023Grey seal pup
What are these beautiful sandy waves?
The healing powers of wastewater
Spring is the time for billing
Oct 10, 2026World Migratory Bird Day
May 22, 2024International Day for Biological Diversity
Dec. 13, 2025Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Jan. 23, 2024Maldives
Oct. 27, 2023Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Freshwater diving capital
Feb. 1, 2026Colourful house in Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil