Lake Misurina, Dolomites, Italy Dec 15, 2024

You might have heard of a pool of tears, but have you ever heard of a lake of tears? Well, legend has it that Lake Misurina, pictured here, in Italy"s Dolomites, was born from the sorrow of a giant named Sorapis. At more than 1,700 metres above sea level, it is the largest natural lake in the Cadore region, with its perimeter stretching more than two kilometres. The area around the lake is known for its beneficial climate, especially for those with respiratory conditions. Its crystal-clear waters and surrounding hotels provide a perfect getaway for up to 500 visitors. The lake played a role in the 1956 Winter Olympics, where it hosted speed skating events on natural ice, and it has even been immortalised in a pop song by singer Claudio Baglioni.

© Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Winter wonderland for your wallet
Dec 15, 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
Dec 15, 2025Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 21, 2025Happy International Day of Forests!
Night outside the museum
Natures boost fruit
Like sands through the hourglass
Trunks packed for road
Dec 27, 2025Plate ice along Lake Superior, Minnesota, United States
Dec 3, 2025Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico
Oct 25, 2025Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland
May 5, 2025Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Apr 2, 2024Beech trees and anemone wildflowers, Jutland, Denmark
Black-and-white bovines
Hangin around
Aug 13, 2025Corona Arch near Moab, Utah, United States
Nov 24, 2023Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
What are these beautiful sandy waves?
Winter wonderland for your wallet
A time-worn medieval marvel
The ancient home of the Minoans
The animal kingdoms great migration
When life imitates art
Jun 11, 2024A group of Southern gemsbok in the savannah, Botswana
Apr 21, 2025International Dark Sky Week
May 19, 2024Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
Jun 5, 2024World Environment Day
Apr 23, 2025Shakespeare Day
A peck between penguins
May 17, 2026Hawksbill Mountain, Shenandoah National Park, United States
Oct 7, 2024The Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg, Germany
A bridge that holds up history
Feb 17, 2026Chinese New Year