Colección de Fondos de Pantalla 202601

Picture a small island rising from the Cornish sea, connected to the mainland only when the tide retreats. For a few hours a day, you can wander across a centuries-old granite causeway made smooth by pilgrims and fishermen. This is St. Michael's Mount, just off the coast of Marazion, in Cornwall, England. Managed by the National Trust and home to the St. Aubyn family since the 1600s, the mount blends myth, medieval history and sweeping coastal views.

Milwaukee City Hall, in the state of Wisconsin, United States, is one of the city's most recognisable landmarks. Completed in 1895, this towering Flemish Renaissance Revival masterpiece doesn't just dominate the skyline; it defines it. For nearly eight decades, it stood as the city's tallest building, a title it proudly held until 1973. Designed by architect Henry C. Koch, this hall blends German-inspired architecture with Milwaukee's own historic influences. That connection isn't accidental—its design pays tribute to the city's strong German heritage, which shaped much of the surrounding neighbourhood as well.

Whanganui National Park showcases one of New Zealand's most distinctive river landscapes. Established in 1986, the park covers about 741 square kilometres across the central North Island, with the Whanganui River tracing long, quiet bends through dense forest. Although the river is not officially within the park's boundaries, it shapes nearly everything around it, including the Whanganui Journey—one of New Zealand's designated Great Walks.

Winter at Lake Kerkini in Greece delivers some of Europe's clearest views of Dalmatian pelicans. Their large silhouettes move in tight, steady groups across the still water, making their scale hard to miss. With wingspans stretching over 3 metres, they rank among the world's largest flying birds. Lake Kerkini's predictable winter conditions offer reliable, close-range views of their size, grace and coordinated movement.

Snowfall turns Retiro Park in Spain's capital, Madrid, into a winter postcard, with the Crystal Palace at its centre. Built in 1887 as a glass conservatory for the Philippines Exposition, this elegant iron-and-glass structure was inspired by London's Crystal Palace from the Great Exhibition of 1851. Designed by Spanish architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, the pavilion was intended to flood its interior with natural light, a feature that becomes especially striking when winter light filters through snow-dusted panes.

In the charming village of Alloway, just south of Ayr in Ayrshire, Burns National Heritage Park brings to life the world of Robert Burns, Scotland's beloved national poet. At its heart lies the thatched cottage, where Burns was born in 1759, in a clay-built home constructed by his father—now fully restored as part of the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

Nestled in the Urseren Valley at about 1,437 metres, Andermatt is a charming Swiss village embraced by the majestic Alps. Long a vital crossroads, it's linked by three iconic passes—Gotthard, Furka and Oberalp—each enhancing its allure as a gateway between regions and cultures.

When January's chill grips Iceland, locals turn to warmth and tradition with Þorrablót—a midwinter festival rooted in Viking heritage. Named after Þorri, a winter figure from Norse mythology, this celebration began as a sacrificial feast to honour the gods and ensure survival through harsh winters. Today, it's a lively cultural event that blends history with hearty camaraderie.

In today's image, winter settles over Karlovy Vary in Czechia, a pastel valley that built its identity around the hot springs rising through its hills. The eponymous city traces its beginnings to accounts of Charles IV, then king of Bohemia (a historic region of Czechia) and later Roman Emperor, encountering a steaming pool here in the 14th century, an early moment that set this quiet part of Bohemia on the path to becoming a spa retreat.

Today's image shows a Eurasian red squirrel perched in the snow, highlighting the thick winter coat and distinctive ear tufts that set this species apart. Native to forests across Europe and parts of Asia, red squirrels depend on a varied diet of seeds, nuts, buds and fungi. To prepare for colder months, they scatter food stores across their territory and construct well-insulated nests—called dreys—inside tree hollows or high among branches.

Penguins thrive in some of Earth's coldest waters. Today's image shows a gentoo penguin beneath a vault of shimmering blue ice, its sharp silhouette etched against the frozen world around it. The gentoo is among the most agile swimmers of all penguins. With strong flippers and a sleek, tapered build, it can navigate icy waters with quick, confident bursts of speed. Its bright bill, bold white head stripe and upright posture make it instantly recognisable, even in colonies where thousands of birds gather along the shore.

The surface looks busy, but everything else is still. White bubbles stack under clear ice as if time stalled halfway through a reaction. Unusual? Yes. Mysterious? Only until you look closer. This is Abraham Lake, the largest reservoir in Alberta, Canada. It is located in the Kootenay Plains area of the Canadian Rockies' front range, where winter captures gas in mid-escape.

If 'Frozen' traded ice for sand, the result would look a lot like White Sands National Park in New Mexico, United States—cool, white dunes that deceive the eye at first glance. It was established to protect a rare geological phenomenon: the world's largest gypsum dunefield. These dunes were formed from gypsum crystals that broke down over thousands of years, creating bright waves that stay cool even in summer.

As the sun sinks below the horizon, the sky glows in soft gold, framing two dramatic rock formations that define one of Brazil's most recognisable seascapes. This striking view is of Fernando de Noronha, a remote archipelago in the state of Pernambuco, located about 360 kilometres from the mainland. Formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago, Fernando de Noronha is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its exceptional natural beauty and biodiversity. Its beaches, including Baía do Sancho and Praia do Leão, regularly feature on lists of the world's best. The surrounding waters support spinner dolphins, sea turtles, reef fish and rare seabirds, making the archipelago one of Brazil's top destinations for snorkelling and diving.

If you've ever watched a wildlife documentary, you know the moment: the camera pans across a quiet savannah and suddenly a leopard appears as if it has been there all along. That quiet reveal says everything about how these cats operate. They move with precision, slipping through grass and branches without making a sound. Their build, muscular but lean, helps them climb, sprint and hide in plain sight. Their rosetted coats? No two patterns match, each serving as natural camouflage from sunrise to moonlight.

Tucked deep within Norway's Arctic Circle, Reine feels like the kind of place you see on a postcard and assume can't possibly be real. But it is. This small fishing village of about 300 residents is known for its steep mountains, calm fjords and bright red rorbuer—traditional fishermen's cabins—that dot the shoreline. Despite its size, Reine draws thousands of visitors each year.

Perched high above the coastal town of Nafplio in Greece, the Fortress of Palamidi asserts itself before its walls even come into view. The climb is steep and unhurried, cut directly into rock, opening wide views across land and sea with every turn. This ascent was never ornamental. It was designed to slow movement, expose approach and reinforce control long before an enemy reached the gates.

The Vale of Clwyd lies between the Clwydian hills and the north Wales coast, forming a wide, fertile valley shaped by centuries of human use. Its flat valley floor and rich soils made it ideal for farming, drawing activity here from prehistoric times. Roman routes later crossed the valley, and by the medieval period, agriculture and market towns had become firmly established. Rather than being repeatedly reshaped, the landscape evolved around cultivation, leaving behind a countryside still defined by open fields, rural settlements and long-standing routes through the land.

The clue isn't the tracks in the snow—it's the frosted faces peeking out like they've just discovered winter. Estonia is one of Europe's best places to spot Eurasian otters, thanks to its clean rivers, wide wetlands and snack-filled coastline. This protected species was named Estonia's Animal of the Year in 2024. While globally considered near threatened, their population here has grown substantially, reaching an estimated 2,000 in recent years, up from a historic low of just 300 before the turn of the millennium.

Chefchaouen, known as the 'Blue Pearl' of the Rif Mountains, is one of the most atmospheric cities in Morocco. Its name comes from a blend of Arabic and Berber—Chef, derived from the Arabic word meaning 'to look,' and Echaouen, a Berber term for 'horns'—together meaning 'look at the horns,' a reference to the two mountain peaks that rise above the town.

Few sights capture the spirit of the Alps like the Matterhorn mirrored in Lake Stellisee's glassy waters. Rising about 4,500 metres on the Swiss-Italian border, this legendary peak has long symbolised natural beauty and adventure, drawing climbers, hikers and dreamers from every corner of the globe.

Step into the realm of giants. Try embracing a BFG (Big Friendly Giant) as you wrap your arms around a thousand years of wisdom in a single tree trunk. Welcome to Muir Woods National Monument, a majestic hall of coastal redwoods just north of San Francisco, in California, United States. These towering redwoods are the tallest trees on Earth—one here stretches about 80 metres, roughly the height of 43 people stacked head to toe. Most are 600–800 years old and some have stood for over a millennium, yet they're still considered 'young' for a species that can live for 2,000 years.

In the Pantanal, Brazil, the diversity of life is extraordinary. Among trees full of fruit, the yellow-chevroned parakeet stands out, as seen in today's image. This bird feeds on seeds and fruits, such as mangoes. Its intense green, marked by yellow stripes on its wings, contrasts with the illuminated canopy, creating a spectacle that reveals the harmony of this unique ecosystem.

In Arches National Park located in Utah in the United States, Turret Arch—seen through North Window—offers a striking reminder: landscapes can take hundreds of millions of years to assemble. Standing approximately 20 metres tall and 10 metres wide, the arch is formed from Entrada Sandstone. These arches began as shifting dunes and shallow seas long before erosion carved the shapes we see today. Even so, these formations are relatively young. Arches National Park protects the highest concentration of natural stone arches on Earth—over 2,000 documented arches, along with spires, fins and balanced rocks. While here, visitors can explore through auto touring, hiking, bicycling, backpacking, canyoneering and rock climbing—permits required for the last three. It's a place where the rocks don't move, but you definitely will.

Picture a city where your daily commute offers views of fjords, drifting ice and the Northern Lights. That's everyday life in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland—a small yet spirited Arctic hub blending Inuit heritage with Nordic modernity. Founded in 1728 by Danish-Norwegian missionary Hans Egede, it began as a small settlement called Godthaab—'Good Hope.'

What stands out about Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa isn't just the wildlife—it's the long-term commitment behind it. Since 1926, its 150 square kilometres have supported research and monitored wildlife behaviour in their natural habitat. Located within the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, it is home to Africa's Big Five. Londolozi is part of a larger open system that connects with Kruger National Park, allowing animals such as elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, zebras and many antelope species to move freely without fences holding them back.

Kings Mountain in the Chugach Mountains of Alaska, United States, isn't just another bump on the horizon—it's the kind of rugged beauty that makes you slow down and stare. Rising over 1,770 metres and sitting roughly 35 kilometres northeast of Palmer, this peak towers over mile 75 of the Glenn Highway, a route famous for its dramatic scenery. Its slopes bear the marks of ancient glaciers, etched into ridges and valleys that seem tailor-made for adventure.

Our picture of the day takes us to the Swiss village of Lauterbrunnen, where the Staubbach Falls shimmer in the distance beyond a quiet alpine valley. The falls cascade 297 metres down a towering cliff, one of Europe's highest free-falling waterfalls, creating a shimmering veil of mist that can be seen for miles around. The town of Lauterbrunnen, with its 72 waterfalls, is often considered one of the most picturesque valleys in the world. This is the landscape a young traveller, J.R.R. Tolkien, crossed during a hiking trip in 1911, long before he became the storyteller behind 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit.' Its soaring cliffs, silver waterfalls and crisp mountain air left a lasting impression and are believed to have inspired his vision of Rivendell, the elven refuge hidden deep in Middle-earth.

Seeing Venice from above is mesmerising, but this Italian gem's true magic lies within its walls and waterways. Founded in the 5th century on a cluster of islands in the Venetian Lagoon, the early settlement rose from marshland to become a maritime powerhouse. By the Middle Ages, it had evolved into a major hub for trade between Europe and the East, fuelling immense wealth and cultural growth. The city's grandeur shines through its Gothic palaces, Renaissance art and landmarks such as St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the Rialto Bridge.

Today's image features an Arctic fox nestled in its winter den—a perfect picture of comfort and survival in harsh conditions. This highly adapted mammal is native to the cold Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, including parts of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, northern Europe and Russia. Arctic foxes have evolved unique physical traits that help them thrive in some of the world's most extreme environments.

If a bridge could win 'Best Supporting Role' in a city's story, Germany's Oberbaum Bridge in Berlin would sweep the awards. Spanning the River Spree between Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, it connects two districts while juggling trains on top, traffic below and crowds of sunset hunters in between. Originally a wooden crossing, the bridge took on its signature red-brick Gothic revival form in 1896, complete with turreted towers that look like they wandered in from a medieval set. But the real twist came during the Cold War, when the bridge became a strict checkpoint between East and West. After reunification, it was restored in the 1990s and welcomed the U1 line back across its upper deck.