Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA Nov 10, 2023

Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA

This densely layered image is not an error of your screen, but the fascinating tiers of fossil beds in Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Under the multicoloured coating lies the land"s history, conserving the remains of ancient horses, camels, tigers and rhinos. The barren landscape, decorated with pinnacles and prairies, was mainly formed by two contrary forces of nature: deposition (the process of small rocks being moved around and deposited in new places) and erosion (the process of rocks wearing away). The Red Shirt Table, at 1,020 metres, is the highest point on the rugged terrain.

© Grant Ordelheide/Tandem Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Happy birthday Badlands National Park
Nov 10, 2024Caribbean flamingos, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Nov 10, 2025Black-tailed prairie dogs in Badlands National Park, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 15, 2025The natural ice wall of Misotsuchi, Chichibu, Japan
A vibrant, sun-drenched island
Jul 14, 2024Shark Awareness Day
MPs most photographed big cat
Oct 11, 2025World Migratory Bird Day
Nov 14, 2024Manarola, Cinque Terre National Park, Liguria, Italy
Pride and Joy
Nov 19, 2025Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary
Mar 14, 2025Lathmar Holi
Sep 11, 2023Médoc, France
How’s the air up there?
A very public display of affection
Jan 18, 2024Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
May 6, 2024The Roaches ridge in the Peak District, England
Dec 3, 2024Amber Fort, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Postcard from Italy
Oct 3, 2023Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
What are these ancient animals?
Dare to tread through the fairy flower?
Sep 20, 2024Ocracoke Lighthouse on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, USA
Dec 27, 2025Plate ice along Lake Superior, Minnesota, United States
Misty mountain hop
A rainbow that’s worth the rainfall
Dec 4, 2024Navy Day
Oct 21, 2024Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia, United States
Clouds dance above Sundance
Dec 26, 2025Boxing Day
Sunlight turning silver to gold
Rising with the sun
Dont just fly, darling. Soar!