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
Apr 19, 2026National Library Week

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 30, 2026Demoiselle cranes, India
Dec 21, 2020Shadows on the solstice
Oct 5, 2022World Teachers Day
May 22, 2019The artists come to Venice
Jan 3, 2022Lick Observatory
Feb 8, 2021A hero for the 21st century
Jun 21, 2023Summer solstice
May 22, 2023International Day for Biodiversity
Aug 24, 2022Ukrainian Independence Day
May 5, 2019Celebrating Mexico in a Cultural Capital
Sep 19, 2019Fall for birding
Aug 18, 2023Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
Jun 12, 2021In Texas, even the riverbend is big
Sep 30, 2022Southern right whale
Jan 27, 2022Bluespotted ribbontail ray
Dec 14, 2021American robin
Nov 5, 2023Playa del Silencio, Spain
Apr 17, 2026International Bat Appreciation Day
Mar 23, 2025World Meteorological Day
Nov 10, 2024Caribbean flamingos, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Nov 5, 2022Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
Nov 4, 2024Grasmere, Lake District, Cumbria, England
Nov 1, 2019The National Museum of the American Indian
Feb 28, 2018Isla del Pescado on the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
Feb 9, 2021What s going on in this sky?
Jan 2, 2026Aerial view of Venice, Italy
Oct 20, 2019Meet the slowest flirt in the animal world
Sep 30, 2023Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Feb 2, 2018Alpine marmots at Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria
Mar 24, 2022Red squirrel