South Padre Island, Texas Apr 27, 2023

South Padre Island, Texas

Located a few miles offshore on the Texas Gulf Coast, Padre Island is the largest of the state"s string of barrier islands. At 113 miles in length, it is also the longest barrier island in the world. Barrier islands usually run parallel to the coast and, as the name suggests, serve as the mainland"s first line of defense against storms.

© Jeff R Clow/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Apr 27, 2018National Park Week: Yosemite National Park, California
Apr 27, 2019Aloe in bloom
Apr 27, 2020That s quite a schnoz, baby tapir
Apr 27, 2021Design for Each and All
Apr 27, 2022Midnight sun
Apr 27, 2024National Go Birding Day
Apr 27, 2025Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec 15, 2025Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jan 4, 2019Observing World Braille Day in Bavaria
Apr 17, 2025Andean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador
Nov 27, 2024Tombeau du Géant in Bouillon, Belgium
Mar 18, 2021A sizzling summit hides in the clouds
Aug 10, 2022Joshua Tree National Park
Jul 19, 2024A young jaguar on a riverbank, Pantanal, Brazil
Oct 9, 2024Aspens in the White River National Forest, Colorado
Mar 21, 2023International Day of Color
Apr 18, 2025International Day for Monuments and Sites
Apr 23, 2019A legend and a legendary home
Jul 21, 2025Coral Reef Awareness Week
Apr 3, 2018The village of Castelluccio above the Piano Grande, Umbria, Italy
Aug 11, 2025Village of Santa Maddalena, Dolomites, Italy
Jan 4, 2020Celebrating whales—and a whale of a tale
Mar 4, 2026Purple crocus flowers, Seven Rila Lakes, Bulgaria
Feb 12, 2021The cycle begins anew
Jul 23, 2020At the foot of Dubrovnik s Gibraltar
Dec 10, 2024Lands End, Cornwall, England
Jan 12, 2020The Zugspitze: Germany s highest point
Jul 25, 2023Laguna de Torrevieja, Spain
Jun 3, 2025World Bicycle Day
Jul 26, 2019The party’s just starting
Sep 14, 2022Navajo Bridge in Marble Canyon
Oct 2, 2025Oxbow Bend on the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Jul 20, 2024International Moon Day
Jan 29, 2025Chinese New Year
Sep 23, 2024Sea Otter Awareness Week
May 7, 2020Where the wildflowers grow
May 28, 2024The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece