Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California, United States Dec 13, 2025

Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California, United States

Every masterpiece needs a brushstroke to tie it together. For Yosemite National Park, that stroke is the Merced River—painting reflections of granite cliffs, pine forests and waterfalls across its canvas. One of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers, this waterway begins high in the Sierra Nevada. It gathers meltwater and travels about 235 kilometres west through Yosemite Valley into California"s Central Valley in the United States.

© Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

A city so nice they made it twice
Dec 13, 2023Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Dec 13, 2024Christmas market, St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest, Hungary

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec 6, 2024Finnish Independence Day
Apr 10, 2026Siblings Day
Lighting the world
Oct 27, 2024Polar Bear Week
May 30, 2026Plains zebra foal in Etosha National Park, Namibia
Mar 8, 2026Akbars tomb, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Feb 21, 2025Champaka Sarasi, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
Apr 1, 2026The Great Stupa at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
What waterborne wizardry is this?
Sep 22, 2025Autumn equinox
Jun 21, 2024International Day of Yoga
Feb 9, 2025Alstrom Point, Lake Powell, United States
Oct 4, 2025World Space Week
Pearl among the emeralds
Mar 12, 2024Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Jan 28, 2026Whanganui National Park, Retaruke, New Zealand
Apr 9, 2024Black bear cub emerges into spring
Jun 3, 2025World Bicycle Day
Mar 11, 2025Broken Beach in Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
Dec 15, 2025Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands
The harmony between land and sun
An ocean of stars above the desert
May 25, 2025Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Chasing summer in the art world
May 2, 2026Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada
Sep 22, 2023World Rhinoceros Day
Nov 17, 2025Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, United States
An ugly duckling no more
May the 4th be with you
May 20, 2025World Bee Day