Start Point Lighthouse, South Devon, England Aug 20, 2023

These humongous structures function by utilizing a combination of light, instruments, and precise engineering. Among these renowned structures is the Start Point Lighthouse, standing tall on a rugged cliff in Devon, England, overlooking the English Channel. Built in 1836, this elegant lighthouse was designed by James Walker—a British civil engineer—and its bright beam guided vessels to safe passage throughout its existence. These towering structures have had an invaluable role in shaping maritime history and ensuring the safety of seafarers in treacherous waters worldwide.

© Guy Edwardes/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

Saving and celebrating honey bees
Aug 20, 2024Sunrise at Grand Teton National Park
Aug 20, 2025The citadel in Bonifacio, Southern Corsica, France
Aug 20, 2026An orca in Lynn Canal, Alaska, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun 2, 2024Hampi, Hospet, Karnataka
Jun 18, 2024Lupine fields, Snæfellsnes, Iceland
Jan 10, 2025Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
Jan 26, 2025Republic Day
Jul 1, 2025Van Mahotsav
Dec 8, 2023La Rocque Harbour, Island of Jersey
A window to the Pacific
Aug 28, 2026Mont-Saint‑Michel during high tide, Normandy, France
Nov 1, 2025Bison grazingin Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Oct 1, 2023Lake Bled, Slovenia
Back to the future
Sept 3, 2026Coyote Buttes, Arizona, United States
Mar 7, 2024Roques de Benet, Els Ports Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
A pink moon over Arizona
Jul 31, 2025Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast, Hawaii, United States
The sun sets on the Valley of the Moon
Jan 6, 2025Flooded crypt, Basilica of San Francesco, Ravenna, Italy
Why is this cliffside ablaze?
Oct 25, 2025Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland
Serene waters on a trembling earth
Solo on the savannah
Feb 11, 2026Death Valley National Park, California, United States
Aug 16, 2026Ross Errilly Friary, County Galway, Ireland
Mar 12, 2026Juvenile sunbittern displaying at nest, Ecuador
Aug 20, 2024Sunrise at Grand Teton National Park
Dec 6, 2025Everglades National Park, Florida, United States
Jun 13, 2024Registan Square, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Sep 18, 2024Gujō Hachiman Castle, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Where two continents meet
Apr 27, 2025Coastal redwoods in Redwood National and State Parks, California, United States