Arch and Milky Way, Alabama Hills, California, United States 13 May 2026

Arch and Milky Way, Alabama Hills, California, United States

In today"s image, the granite arches of the Alabama Hills frame the Milky Way over a rugged landscape in California"s eastern Sierra Nevada. Famous for its rounded boulders and weathered rock formations, this area formed when molten rock cooled deep underground around 100 million years ago. Water and wind gradually shaped the stone into the smooth shapes seen today. Visitors can explore the natural arches, hike among the rocks, capture photographs of the unique landscape, ride horses or mountain bikes and enjoy seasonal displays of wildflowers.

© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

Tis the season for travel
Solo on the savanna
13 May 2024Fish River Canyon, Namibia
13 May 2025Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile

More Desktop Wallpapers:

5 Dec 2025Maya site of Copán
2 Apr 2024Beech trees and anemone wildflowers, Jutland, Denmark
4 Jun 2024Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Bardia National Park, Nepal
4 Nov 2023Playa del Silencio, Spain
23 Jun 2026Mount Fuji on Honshu Island, Japan
A peck between penguins
14 May 2026Pitigliano, Tuscany, Italy
25 Nov 2023Toledo, Spain
A Balearic islet
Bring the king cakes
Secluded sands in Mexico
20 Jun 2026Arched iceberg, western Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean
A beautiful labyrinth
4 Dec 2024Wildlife Conservation Day
When art imitates life
7 Jun 2026Ruins of Dunseverick Castle, Northern Ireland
8 Feb 2025Medieval towers in Mestia, Upper Svaneti, Georgia
6 Jan 2024Oud-West neighbourhood, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Stealthy pollinators
11 Feb 2024Folegandros Island, Cyclades, Greece
20 Apr 2025Happy Easter!
22 Feb 2025Gateway Arch in St Louis, Missouri, United States
So good, they built it twice
9 Aug 2025International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
3 Dec 2024Amber Fort, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Strong sibling bonds
Autumn in Georgia
Love is in the snow
3 Jul 2026Fireflies glowing above a stream, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
An architectural masterpiece fit for a king