The Brocken, Harz National Park, Germany Mar. 7, 2026

The Brocken, Harz National Park, Germany

Imagine reaching the Brocken in Harz National Park, Germany, as clouds slide across the ridge. With the sun behind you, mist ahead—then a giant, haloed shadow forms. Ever wondered why climbers once feared this sight? The phenomenon, called the Brocken spectre, is an eerie natural optical effect that occurs when sunlight projects a person"s shadow onto cloud or fog. Rising about 1,141 metres, the Brocken is the highest peak in northern Germany and has long inspired folklore, including tales of witches gathering here during Walpurgis Night.

© imageBROKER/AVTG/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Winter at Valley Forge
Mar. 7, 2024Roques de Benet, Els Ports Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
Mar. 7, 2025Plum blossoms, China

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr. 12, 2024Arches National Park, Utah, USA
Mar. 18, 2024Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
Like a waterfall, free and wild
Apr. 19, 2025Zion National Park, Utah, United States
Sep. 4, 2023Camels in the desert, United Arab Emirates
What the heck is a distaff?
Feb. 19, 2025European river otter
Mar. 19, 2026Short-beaked echidna, Adelaide Hills, Australia
Festival fever
A flashy, frigid waterfowl
Nov. 17, 2024Red deer stag in Glen Affric, Scotland
Nov. 28, 2025Val Brandet, Brescia, Lombardy, Italy
Aug. 19, 2024Two Atlantic puffins in Elliston
Dec. 11, 2025International Mountain Day
The Big Apple with a foggy topping
The ‘Old Bridge,’ reborn
What are these predators doing?
The only road to P.E.I.
A labyrinth of luxury
Saving and celebrating honey bees
Aug. 17, 2025International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
Oct. 15, 2024Great wildebeest migration at Mara River, Kenya
Mar. 17, 2024St. Patricks Day
The worlds most exclusive beach?
Jun 17, 2026Tremola Road on the Saint Gotthard Pass in Airolo, Switzerland
May 23, 2026World Turtle Day
Family on parade
Jul. 20, 2024International Moon Day
Oct. 30, 2024Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, United Kingdom
Let’s go to the Ex!