Colección de Fondos de Pantalla 202609

Seen from above, the Kasilof River winds like a ribbon of turquoise through Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. The vivid blue water comes from glacial silt carried downstream from Tustumena Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the state. Flowing about 27 kilometres before emptying into Cook Inlet, the river is shorter than its famous neighbour, the Kenai, but no less remarkable.

Most first-time visitors know Jaipur, in Rajasthan, India, as the Pink City, but the earlier royal capital was centred on Amber Fort. That's where much of the dynasty's political and architectural history was shaped. The fort developed over more than a century, beginning under Raja Man Singh I in 1592 and continuing under later Kachwaha rulers who controlled the kingdom that eventually became Jaipur State. The royal family moved to the newly planned city of Jaipur in 1727, but Amber continued to serve ceremonial functions.

Forget rolling vineyards—around Stuttgart in Germany, the vines take the uphill route, climbing steep terraces above the Neckar valley and weaving between dry-stone walls. These vineyards are a defining feature of the city's landscape, with some of the steepest plots requiring extensive handwork because machinery is difficult to use. Local winegrowers, known as Wengerter, tend the vines on slopes that can reach gradients of 50 per cent. Traditional varieties such as Trollinger and Riesling are closely associated with the region and remain widely grown today.

What do a bear's ears, a house on fire and a road packed with hairpin turns have in common? They're all part of the story of America's public lands in southeastern Utah. Bears Ears National Monument protects important cultural and natural resources, including archaeological sites that reflect thousands of years of human history. Its name comes from two buttes that rise side by side and resemble a bear's ears.

Most rivers spend their lives flowing around obstacles. The Sharavathi River reaches the edge of a cliff and simply jumps. At Jog Falls in Karnataka, the river plunges 253 metres, making it the third-highest waterfall in India.

Castelmezzano, in the province of Potenza in Basilicata, Italy, is hidden from view until you reach it. You arrive through a tunnel and as you emerge, the village suddenly appears, wedged among the sandstone pinnacles of the Lucanian Dolomites. The houses seem to climb over one another at around 750 metres above sea level, connected by steps and narrow lanes that rise towards the remains of the Norman fortress.

A round door, a bright green frame and a hillside that looks straight out of Middle-earth—welcome to Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, New Zealand. Built in 1999 for 'The Lord of the Rings,' the original set featured 39 temporary Hobbit Holes across a 4.9-hectare site. After filming ended, the set was dismantled, but it returned in 2009 for 'The Hobbit' films and was rebuilt as a permanent attraction.

What makes a tree 'quake?' Take a closer look at an aspen leaf. Its flattened stalk catches even a light breeze, making the leaves flutter and giving the tree its name: quaking aspen. Near Guardsman Pass in Utah, United States, these trees form striking groves across the higher mountain slopes, where cooler, moist conditions suit them well.

Few animals are as closely tied to the health of coastal ecosystems as the sea otter. In today's image, one grooms its fur in Monterey Bay, California, USA. This behaviour is far more than a daily ritual. Unlike seals and whales, sea otters have little insulating blubber, so they rely on the densest fur of any animal. Careful cleaning traps air within their coat, creating a waterproof layer that helps them stay warm in the cold Pacific.

No other city is nearly as romanticised as Paris. Yet the French capital's history has not always been as rosy as the sunset glowing behind the Eiffel Tower. Built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, or the World's Fair, which marked the centennial of the start of the French Revolution, the tower was originally intended to serve as the fair's entrance centrepiece. Designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel and his team, the iron landmark rose 300 metres above the Champ de Mars and became the tallest structure in the world at the time.

Think you know what a desert looks like? Lençóis Maranhenses National Park might change your mind. Along Brazil's Maranhão coast, huge white dunes sit beside freshwater lagoons, creating a landscape that changes with the seasons. Established as a national park in 1981 and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024, it covers more than 156,000 hectares (about 386,887 acres) and stretches along 80 kilometres of coastline. The dunes are shaped by prevailing winds, while seasonal rains collect in the hollows between them. Some lagoons last only through the wet season, while others remain year-round, including Lagoa da Esperança.

A long, winding road cuts through rocks more than 300 million years old in England's Peak District. As if that geological timescale were not remarkable enough, the road passes through Winnats Pass, a narrow limestone gorge whose towering cliffs reveal the ancient seas that once covered this part of Britain.

Each year, late summer and early autumn bring one of France's most anticipated traditions: the 'vendanges,' the grape-picking season. The timing varies from one wine region to another and depends on weather conditions, sun exposure and the ripeness of the fruit. For many vineyards, harvest is still a hands-on effort, with teams carefully selecting bunches destined for some of the country's most celebrated wines.

Two polar bear cubs pick their way across the snow in Svalbard, a remote Norwegian archipelago of glaciers, mountains and frozen fjords deep in the Arctic Ocean. This wild landscape is part of the Barents Sea region, home to one of the world's largest polar bear populations, with around 2,600 bears.

Evolution occasionally favours maximalism. Just look at these red-and-green macaws with their scarlet plumage, vivid green wings and blue flight feathers. Their lives unfold across tropical South America, in a routine that connects fruit, seeds and soil in ways that are easy to miss from the ground.

In today's image, kochia plants spread across the landscape in China in shades of green and deep red. Native to parts of Eurasia, kochia was introduced to the United States in the late 1800s as an ornamental plant and a source of material for broom making. Its ability to withstand drought, heat, saline soils and low rainfall helped it spread across the Great Plains and much of the American West.

The image captures the jagged skyline of Cadini di Misurina at sunrise in Veneto, northeastern Italy. Visitors heading toward nearby Tre Cime di Lavaredo often come for the famous route only to find their attention hijacked by the Cadini. Part of the Dolomites, these needle-like peaks reaching more than 2,800 metres at their highest point seem sculpted for drama. The twist? They started out as ancient coral reefs.

A day at the beach is rarely quiet when California sea lions are around. With their booming barks, playful personalities and a knack for stealing the spotlight, these marine mammals know how to put on a show.

In September, the French Riviera is bathed in a softer light, and the Mediterranean landscape takes on fresher tones after the peak of summer. The hills are scented with Aleppo pine, rosemary and wild thyme. In the hinterland, centuries-old olive trees and hilltop villages tell a story shaped by Greek, Roman and Provençal influences.

Ever wondered why Andalusia is one of Spain's best-known regions? Flamenco, tapas, Moorish architecture and extensive olive groves all play a part. Beyond its famous cities, you'll find historic places like Olvera. Surrounded by more than 2 million olive trees, this village developed as a strategic frontier settlement shaped by centuries of change. The Castle of Olvera still watches over the town, while the Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation dominates the skyline below. Visit La Cilla Cultural Centre to discover Olvera's medieval history and traditions.

As morning breaks over Elliston, a small seabird appears with a wild iris held across its bill. The scene looks almost like a gift, yet biologists say Atlantic puffins are not known to offer flowers to their mates during courtship. The colourful bill, which becomes brightest in the breeding season and fades later in the year, helps make the photograph memorable. Even their feet turn brighter.

A beech tree stands alone amid golden fields near East Meon in Hampshire, providing a striking focal point in the rolling landscape of England's South Downs National Park. Agriculture has shaped these chalk hills for centuries, and farming remains an important part of the region today. The area's free-draining chalk soils support extensive arable farming, with wheat and barley among the most common crops. Throughout the summer, these crops ripen in the fields before harvest transforms the countryside into a patchwork of gold and stubble.

Perched above the Regnitz River, the Old Town Hall is one of Bamberg's most iconic landmarks in Germany. According to local tradition, the building stands on an artificial island because the town's bishop refused to grant the citizens land for their town hall. In response, residents are said to have created their own site in the middle of the river, giving the structure its remarkable setting and enduring appeal.

At first glance, today's image looks more like a drowned woodland than a lake. Bare tree trunks emerge from the water, their reflections stretching across the surface as the Grampians glow in the distance. This is Lake Fyans, an artificial reservoir on the edge of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park in Victoria, Australia. Popular with boaters, anglers, sailors and water skiers, it offers a front-row seat to one of the country's most striking landscapes.

When it comes to aerial acrobatics, hummingbirds are in a league of their own. Found only in the Americas, these tiny birds can hover in place, fly backwards and beat their wings dozens of times per second. As they visit flowers in search of nectar, they also serve as important pollinators, helping sustain ecosystems from alpine meadows to tropical rainforests. Their shimmering plumage, remarkable agility and high-energy lifestyles make them some of the world's most fascinating birds.

Rising above the salt marshes along Germany's North Sea coast, the Westerheversand Lighthouse is instantly recognisable thanks to its distinctive red-and-white stripes. Built between 1906 and 1908, the lighthouse has stood as an icon on the Eiderstedt Peninsula for more than a century, guiding ships through the waters of the North Sea. Today, it remains one of northern Germany's best-known coastal landmarks. Visitors who climb its 157 steps are rewarded with sweeping views of the surrounding scenery.

Blink and you'll miss the turn, but you definitely won't miss the cliffs. Vermilion Cliffs National Monument stretches across northern Arizona and protects a landscape shaped over nearly 200 million years. The area became a national monument in 2000, helping safeguard fragile rock formations, prehistoric sites and habitats for rare wildlife. Coyote Buttes is the star attraction for many visitors. Its famous Wave is carved into Navajo Sandstone, which began as vast sand dunes during the Jurassic Period. Over millions of years, wind erosion, rainfall and temperature changes sculpted the flowing bands and curves seen today.

Along England's east shore, the Suffolk Heritage Coast blends windswept heaths, marshes, shingle beaches and expansive North Sea views. One of its best-known towns is Southwold, where water and history are inseparable. Almost encircled by the sea, the River Blyth and surrounding wetlands, the town occupies a slender peninsula shaped by centuries of fishing, trade and life at the edge of the water.

Fungi often go unnoticed beneath forest floors, lawns and fallen leaves, yet their underground threads help recycle nutrients and support healthy ecosystems. The mushrooms we see are only the fruiting bodies of much larger organisms. They appear briefly, release spores, then disappear from sight. Unlike plants, fungi belong to a kingdom of their own. Some species even glow, while others form partnerships with trees.

When the first rays of sunlight gild the horizon, Sellin Pier reveals its most striking side. Located on the eastern coast of the island of Rügen in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, this structure is one of the best-known landmarks on Germany's Baltic coast. Its history dates back to 1906, when the first pier was opened. Over the decades, the structure suffered repeated damage from storms and other factors and was eventually demolished.