Sassnitz lighthouse, Rügen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Feb. 17, 2024

Sassnitz lighthouse, Rügen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

This winter wonderland is Rügen, Germany"s largest island. From the iconic chalk cliffs of Jasmund National Park to sandy beaches, the island provides a diverse landscape for nature enthusiasts to revel in. Many artists have come here in the past to give free rein to their creativity. The chalk cliffs inspired one of Germany"s most famous painters—Caspar David Friedrich. Pictured here is Sassnitz lighthouse, a maritime beacon that has guided sailors through the Baltic Sea since its establishment in 1905. Though ice may be covering the shore, the lighthouse still stands, frozen as over, shining a light for ships to sail by.

© Christian Back/eStock

palette

Today in History

Let the Great Backyard Bird Count begin!
Feb. 17, 2025Coll dAres, Catalan Pyrenees
Feb. 17, 2026Chinese New Year

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dare to tread through the fairy flower?
Get ready for the blood moon
You can take a refreshing dip here any day of the year
Oct. 2, 2024Autumn in the Ogilvie Mountains, Yukon
Apr. 25, 2024World Penguin Day
Jul. 4, 2024Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site
Aug. 15, 2025The Canadian National Exhibition is here!
A salty situation
Jul. 23, 2024Methoni Castle, Messinia, Greece
May 8, 2024Marseille welcomes to Olympic torch
Oct. 17, 2023Vieste, Apulia, Italy
World Hippo Day, a giant celebration
Let the Great Backyard Bird Count begin!
Jun. 23, 2025Elbe river in Dresden, Saxony, Germany
Feb. 28, 2025Bighorn sheep in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, United States
Finding beauty in ruins
The butterfly effect
Jun. 24, 2025Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah, United States
Feb. 19, 2025European river otter
May 15, 2024The Blue City of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Spiralling upward...
Feb. 8, 2024Mount Hood, Oregon
Oct. 3, 2023Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Where the rainbow ends
A road not for the faint of heart
Nov. 10, 2023Badlands National Park anniversary
Sep. 20, 2023Aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland
Sep. 8, 2024International Literacy Day
Jul. 30, 2025International Day of Friendship
Nov. 4, 2023American bison