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:

Dec 31, 2018A new tradition in London
Oct 18, 2018Fall comes to the Last Frontier
Feb 1, 2019‘Stepping’ into Black History Month
Sep 15, 2024National Hispanic Heritage Month
Apr 16, 2022National Park Week begins
Sep 5, 20242024 Toronto International Film Festival
Nov 21, 20222022 FIFA World Cup
Apr 12, 2022International Day of Human Space Flight
May 20, 2022World Bee Day
Sep 2, 2018Row, row, row your gondola
Oct 16, 2018Hey, who’s in charge here?
Jan 19, 2020Ready. Set. Snow.
Jan 15, 2019A personal collection becomes an institution
Jan 19, 2026Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Sep 24, 2018Mooncake time
Mar 25, 2020It s Tolkien Reading Day
Sep 5, 2018Salmon migration in full swing
Dec 6, 2023Computer Science Education Week
Aug 10, 2018Assembling the Smithsonian
Mar 20, 2019Hello, spring!
May 2, 2024Craters of the Moon centennial
May 30, 2022Memorial Day
Jun 24, 2025Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah
Jul 17, 2018Is there a bug-egg emoji for this?
Jul 26, 2020A path to access
Jul 1, 2026Canada Day
Oct 14, 2018Gone ‘lightseeing’ in Berlin
Nov 28, 2022Red Planet Day
Jun 25, 2026Buildings on Grand-Place Square in Brussels, Belgium
Jun 6, 2023D-Day remembered