Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, Scotland Apr 19, 2024

Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, Scotland

At the heart of the Orkney Islands, an archipelago in northern Scotland, lies an ancient riddle: the Ring of Brodgar. Dating back to sometime between 2500 and 2000 BCE, this Neolithic henge—a type of ancient circular earthwork—and stone circle measure about 340 feet across. Lying on a narrow strip of land between two lochs, the site initially comprised 60 stones, although today only 36 remain. The exact purpose of the structure is still unknown, despite an excavation project at the site in 2008. In 1999, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney group of monuments, which includes the Ring of Brodgar, was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are planning a trip to Scotland, consider walking amid the echoes of history at the Ring of Brodgar while the crisp Scottish air embraces you.

© Paul Williams - FunkyStock/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Apr 19, 2018Craig Goch Dam in the Elan Valley of Wales
Apr 19, 2019Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park shines
Apr 19, 2020Step into the dark
Apr 19, 2021Rays on parade
Apr 19, 2022Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia
Apr 19, 2023Taiwan yuhinas in Alishan National Scenic Area
Apr 19, 2025First day of National Park Week

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 18, 2024Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
May 31, 2025Knuthöjdsmossen, a nature reserve in Sweden
Jul 29, 2019A picture-perfect day on Trillium
May 1, 2022AAPI Heritage Month & Lei Day
May 26, 2023Wat Sri Sawai in Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand
Mar 12, 2023Lucian Blaga National Theater, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Feb 22, 2020It s not always sunny in Abu Simbel…
Nov 19, 2022Zion National Park turns 103
Jun 17, 2019World-class art comes to Arkansas
Sep 12, 2025In the Red Sea for World Dolphin Day
May 29, 2025Miravet, Catalonia, Spain
Feb 20, 2022World Whale Day
Nov 30, 2021Giving Tuesday
Jul 7, 2019Traffic jam on the caribou highway
Oct 26, 2022Brocken spectre in Central Balkan National Park, Bulgaria
Jun 23, 2024Dhaka, Bangladesh
Aug 24, 2019Get the bear facts
Aug 6, 2019Storks ready for takeoff
Jan 27, 2018Bioluminescence at Trwyn Du Lighthouse in Wales
Feb 2, 2024Groundhog Day
May 14, 2021A misty morning in Brazil
Nov 7, 2019Paris is photo-ready this week
Jun 23, 2018Commemorating peace in Antarctica
Apr 24, 2023Old underground cellar, Bavaria, Germany
Nov 21, 2019Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!
Sep 21, 2018A tower of light
Feb 26, 2021Lighting the way to new beginnings
Nov 9, 2025Carl Sagan Day
Jun 22, 2019Reflections on the mighty Amazon
Nov 7, 2025Polar Bear Week