For St. Patrick"s Day, we"re featuring an image of the Knowth passage grave, part of Brú na Bóinne, or the Boyne Valley tombs, about an hour"s drive north of Dublin. In addition to Knowth, this UNESCO World Heritage site is home to the Newgrange and Dowth passage graves, henges, standing stones, and a significant portion of Western Europe"s megalithic art. Knowth, the largest passage grave in the complex, is a 40-foot-high mound with a diameter of 220 feet; two east-west passages run under it that lead to separate burial chambers. The structures predate St. Patrick by nearly 4,000 years, and their original purpose is unclear—but on this day dedicated to celebrating all things Irish, they show off the engineering capabilities of the area"s ancient population as well as the natural green beauty of the Irish countryside.
It s a good day to be green
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Tintern Abbey, Wales
-
America s Playground by Derrick Adams
-
East River crossing
-
Bird’s-eye view of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
-
Black Fell in England s Lake District
-
Racing toward history
-
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
-
Beavers Bend
-
Fin whales: A success story
-
Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence
-
The dry days of winter in Etosha
-
Shadows on the solstice
-
It’s oh so quiet
-
World Jellyfish Day
-
Mont-Saint-Michel
-
Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California
-
Wild garlic in bloom at Hainich National Park, Germany
-
Mandarin duck, Richmond Park, London, England
-
Hoisting a flag for seafarers
-
International Museum Day
-
Waiānapanapa State Park, Maui, Hawaii
-
Strolling across the Red Lagoon
-
A spectacle unlike any other
-
You ve never seen anything like this
-
Falling for Rioja
-
Gauchos showcase Argentina’s independent spirit
-
Reflecting on one of the world s strangest rivers
-
Children at play for International Day of Friendship
-
Keep watching the skies
-
Dusky eagle-owls, Pakistan