Imagine reaching the Brocken in Harz National Park, Germany, as clouds slide across the ridge. With the sun behind you, mist ahead—then a giant, haloed shadow forms. Ever wondered why climbers once feared this sight? The phenomenon, called the Brocken spectre, is an eerie natural optical effect that occurs when sunlight projects a person"s shadow onto cloud or fog. Rising about 1,141 metres, the Brocken is the highest peak in northern Germany and has long inspired folklore, including tales of witches gathering here during Walpurgis Night.
The Brocken, Harz National Park, Germany
Today in History
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Chapel of St. Michel on Lake Serre-Ponçon, Hautes-Alpes, France
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March of the flowers
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Summer winds down in the Southern Hemisphere
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Summer winds down in the Southern Hemisphere
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Finding a balance between wetlands and water treatment
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Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
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Terraced rice fields, Yuanyang County, China
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Roques de Benet, Els Ports Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
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Plum blossoms in China
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An ultralight aircraft flying over the sands of Namibia
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Happy International Day of Forests!
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Darwin s Arch
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A sleeping green giant
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National Park Week: Everglades National Park
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International Beaver Day
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Union Square, Manhattan
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Infrared Jupiter, erupting Io
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A hit ballet, long after its debut
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Quiver trees in Namibia
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Big wheels on a big mountain
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Wat Sri Sawai in Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand
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A monster view in Scotland
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Giving Tuesday
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National Mushroom Day
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Celebrating National Panda Day
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Polar bears
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Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
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International Tiger Day
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Spring blooms in the Netherlands
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Juneteenth
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47 years of Badlands National Park
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A gorge-ous mill in the Causses
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Pumpkin patch
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Whales in winter
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Feel the spray in Monterey
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Pollinators: not to be sneezed at
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

