Death Valley National Park, California, USA 2 Nov 2023

Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Stretching for miles below the desert sun, the salt flats of Badwater Basin shine in Death Valley National Park, California. This sweltering spot is the lowest point of elevation of North America, 282 feet below sea level. In this otherworldly landscape, the hardened, mineral surface glistens like a mirror as the scorching heat dances upon it, creating rippling waves in the air. Composed of sodium chloride, borax and other minerals, the flats" brittle crust conceals a treacherous mud layer beneath. For those who venture beyond the flats and up a mountainside, Dante"s View reveals a panoramic view of Badwater Basin from a height of nearly 515 feet. With its surreal landscapes, Death Valley National Park offers a truly unique experience where an odd beauty thrives despite the harshest of conditions.

© Jim Patterson/Tandem Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

In the foothills of Snowdon
2 Nov 2024American bison in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
2 Nov 2025Maple and bamboo forests in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

More Desktop Wallpapers:

26 Nov 2023Fallow deer, Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, England
25 Apr 2026World Penguin Day
19 Nov 2025Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary
26 Dec 2023Happy Boxing Day!
Hangin around
30 Dec 2024Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia
9 Mar 2024Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico, USA
17 Nov 2024Red deer stag in Glen Affric, Scotland
24 Nov 2023Green Friday
22 Mar 2026World Water Day
Hop into Lunar New Year
Is it art?
23 Feb 2026Great white egret, Upper Bavaria, Germany
28 Apr 2025Impala in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
21 Apr 2026European hedgehog, France
5 Jul 2025Pride in London
An old bridge in a new light
Celebrating the tropics
10 Nov 2023Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA
We can all just get along
23 Dec 2023Festivus
8 Feb 2024Mount Hood, Oregon, USA
27 Jan 2026Dalmatian pelicans, Lake Kerkini, Greece
15 Jun 2024Trooping the Colour
20 Apr 2025Happy Easter!
30 Aug 2024International Whale Shark Day
10 Apr 2026Black grouse males, Estonia
1 Nov 2025Peña Roya beech forest, Moncayo Natural Park, Aragon, Spain
A mountaintop cultural wonder
Purple mountain majesties