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:

Heads together
26 Feb 2026Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, Arizona, United States
12 Jul 2024Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA
11 Jul 2024World Population Day
7 Feb 2025Blue hour in Trondheim, Norway
24 Jan 2026Big Garden Birdwatch
Turquoise delight
13 Jul 2024International Rock Day
7 Sep 2024Annas hummingbird
3 Jan 2025Happy Birthday, JRR Tolkien!
17 Sep 2025A young bull moose, Denali National Park, Alaska, United States
The Town of Books
Let’s protect our turtles
Passing with flying colours
A bevy of buzzers
18 Jul 2024Coral Reef Awareness Week
15 Dec 2025Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands
30 Apr 2024Cheetah in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
9 Aug 2024Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Farewell Ma’am
A deadly coast
26 Sep 2023Venice Skatepark, Los Angeles, California
23 Apr 2025Saint Georges Day
29 Jan 2024Gollinger Waterfalls, Salzburg, Austria
22 Oct 2024Palazzo Zuccari, Rome
26 Nov 2025World Olive Tree Day
25 Feb 2026Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska, United States
Just a pinch
12 Aug 2025World Elephant Day
Sentinel of the sea