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
Apr 27, 2026The glass dome of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul 19, 2022National Bison Month
Jul 20, 2021Fly me to the moon
Jul 5, 2021How green is my valley
Feb 9, 2018Speed skaters in the Gangneung Oval, Pyeongchang, South Korea
Apr 22, 2019Meet our fuzzy Earth Day mascot
Jan 30, 2022Halo around the sun
Sep 28, 2023World Maritime Day
Apr 7, 2025Happy International Beaver Day!
Sep 27, 2025Astronomy Day and National Public Lands Day
May 31, 2018Leaves of Grass
Mar 10, 2023Vale of Edale, Peak District, England
Jun 21, 2024World Giraffe Day
May 29, 2025Miravet, Catalonia, Spain
Dec 30, 2022White Desert National Park, Egypt
Jan 3, 2019How do ladybugs winter?
Oct 1, 2024Yosemite National Park anniversary
Dec 9, 2018There’s treasure in them thar hills
Apr 24, 2020Celebrating 30 years of eye-opening images
Nov 8, 2020Languid life on the Lakes
Aug 2, 2021This reef is nowhere near the sea…
May 25, 2022The Alhambra in Granada, Spain
Mar 25, 2024Happy Holi!
Nov 21, 20222022 FIFA World Cup
Mar 7, 2022Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
Feb 27, 2025International Polar Bear Day
May 9, 2023A castle fit for a count
Apr 9, 2025Naxos in the Cyclades Islands of Greece
May 19, 2023Endangered Species Day
Mar 24, 2023Wild garlic in bloom at Hainich National Park, Germany
Jan 29, 2024Golling Waterfall, Salzburg, Austria