Punakaiki on South Island, New Zealand Aug 25, 2020

Punakaiki on South Island, New Zealand

This portion of New Zealand"s South Island coast features plenty of strange geology. The Pancake Rocks, so named due to the stacked, flat layers of sediment and stone, were once underwater. As the Tasman Sea receded, the unusual rocks became the Punakaiki region"s shore. Erosion created openings along the cliffs called "blowholes." When the tide comes crashing in, water sprays up through the openings, and if you"re standing too close, you"ll get soaked.

© Maurizio Rellini/Sime/eStock Photo

palette

Today in History

Aug 25, 2018Happy trails for the 21st century
Aug 25, 2019A desert arts pop-up, just popped up
Aug 25, 2021Happy anniversary to the National Park Service!
Aug 25, 2022National Park Service Founders Day
Aug 25, 2023National Park Service anniversary
Aug 25, 2024National Park Service Founders Day
Aug 25, 2025Yellowstone for the National Park Services birthday

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul 8, 2021A storied trail marks a century
Jul 5, 2020There once was a lighthouse from...
Sep 25, 2023Sea Otter Awareness Week
Feb 14, 2025Happy Valentines Day!
Jul 12, 2024Mount Rainier National Park
Jan 19, 2020Ready. Set. Snow.
May 19, 2019High trekking season in Upper Mustang
Nov 30, 2022Old Town of Rovinj, Croatia
Sep 30, 2018Aw shucks, it’s oyster season in Galway
Jan 21, 2021The tale of squirrels like Nutkin
Apr 29, 2020Spring comes to the Palouse
Sep 8, 2019Just a couple of yellow-billed hornbills
Apr 4, 2020In the path of the pronghorn
Feb 12, 2023Blue-footed booby, Galápagos Islands
May 9, 2024Tulips at Emirgan Park in Istanbul, Türkiye
Apr 10, 2023Siblings Day
Aug 11, 2018Lace up your hiking boots for Mountain Day
May 28, 2022Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Australia
Apr 13, 2025Songkran—Thai New Year
May 18, 2023International Museum Day
Apr 15, 2024World Art Day
Oct 16, 2022Prince Christian Sound in southern Greenland
Oct 1, 2019It s Coffee Day
Jul 7, 2025Northern gannets, Shetland Islands, Scotland
Jan 30, 2021Even nature needs a backup plan…
Feb 10, 2023Ancient theater of Epidaurus, Greece
Jul 11, 2024World Population Day
Mar 11, 2022We stand with Ukraine
Jan 14, 2019An island oasis in the Indian Ocean
Jan 16, 2025Anniversary of Pinnacles National Park, California