Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah Oct. 25, 2023

The Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument is an untamed wilderness of cliffs and canyons nestled in the heart of southern Utah. The Grand Staircase is a fascinating sequence of five majestic sandstone cliffs, rising approximately 1,675 metres across the expanse of the monument. Each step displays a different era in Earth"s geologic history, a showcase of time that is unrivalled by any other place on the planet. Archaeologists have found prehistoric artefacts, petrified wood, and fossils dating back over 75 million years ago, from the Cretaceous Period. In human history, the Ancestral Puebloan and Fremont people mastered the art of farming in this challenging terrain. They ingeniously constructed granaries to store and preserve their bountiful harvests. Today, it is a splendid getaway for nature enthusiasts and travellers seeking adventure.

© Jeff Foott/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

Park of the Monsters
Oct. 25, 2024Frankenstein Friday
Oct. 25, 2025Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 17, 2024Endangered Species Day
Feb. 18, 2024World Whale Day
May 29, 2025Miravet, Catalonia, Spain
Who uses this grassy bridge?
Feb. 27, 2026International Polar Bear Day
Feb. 28, 2026Oloupena Falls, island of Molokai, Hawaii, United States
May 16, 2024International Day of Light
Aug. 4, 2024Friendship Day
Dec. 22, 2024Christmas tree at Crystal Pier, San Diego, California, United States
Nature’s blue wonder
Aug. 17, 2025International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
Sep. 13, 2023Hemakuta Hill, Hampi
Sep. 9, 2024Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil
Nov. 23, 2025Fibonacci Day
Mar. 11, 2026Peach trees in Cieza, Murcia, Spain
Aug. 27, 2025World Lake Day
A bridge that holds up history
Nov. 1, 2025Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Mar. 1, 2026Snowy owl near the Canadian Rockies
Dec. 21, 2025Winter solstice
Jan. 19, 2026Abraham Lake, Alberta
Something to ‘bee’ thankful for
Celebrating the Scottish bard
May 12, 2024Mothers Day
Jun. 15, 2024International Surfing Day
Jul. 8, 2024Blueberries growing in the wild
A life-sized snow globe
Jul. 7, 2024Rice terraces of Mù Cang Chải, Yên Bái province, Vietnam
A light in the coastal darkness
May 24, 2025European Day of Parks