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

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:

Jan. 28, 2024Channel Country, Australia
Go fly a kite!
King of the ocean
Nov. 15, 2024Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Feb. 26, 2026Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States
Jun. 12, 2024Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Oct. 29, 2023Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia, USA
May 18, 2024International Museum Day
Dec. 18, 2025Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
Nov. 30, 2024Saint Andrews Day
Mar. 18, 2026Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, Oregon, USA
Apr. 30, 2025International Jazz Day
Sep. 28, 2024Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida, USA
Mar. 22, 2025Happy World Water Day!
Jan. 11, 2026Blue walls of Chefchaouen, Morocco
Jan. 1, 2025Happy New Year!
Butterfly, fly away
Mar. 12, 2024Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Oct. 3, 2024Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Aug. 11, 2025Village of Santa Maddalena, Dolomites, Italy
Sep 4, 2026Westerheversand Lighthouse, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Jan. 20, 2026Penguin Awareness Day
Aug. 13, 2024Telašćica Nature Park, Dugi Otok, Croatia
The buffet is open
Bring the king cakes
Jul 9, 2026Rice fields at Sapa, Lào Cai, Vietnam
When being in a rut is OK
Oct. 21, 2024Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia, United States
Feb. 20, 2026Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California, United States