Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho, USA May 2, 2024

Buckle up, Earthlings, as you venture into an extraterrestrial realm right here on our planet! Surrounded by the rugged landscape of Idaho, the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve was born of the volcanic forces that shaped the region thousands of years ago. Visitors are greeted by a surreal vista of vast lava fields, cinder cones and spatter cones, reminiscent of a lunar surface, spread across almost 218 square kilometres. Did you know that the Apollo 14 astronauts trained here to prepare for their moon missions? The space travellers were able gain insight into similar conditions found on the moon by exploring the unique volcanic geology of the Craters of the Moon. So, if you ever want to visit outer space without leaving Earth, Craters of the Moon should be right up your alley.

© Alan Majchrowicz/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Bright blue lakes and rugged mountains
The festival of breaking the fast
May 2, 2025Striated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, Brazil

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 20, 2025Red deer, Canada
Dec 1, 2023Ross Sea, Antarctica
Nov 16, 2025A traboule in Lyon, France
Apr 18, 2024International Day for Monuments and Sites
Oct 21, 2023Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur
Apr 8, 2024Burrowing owl chicks
Jul 31, 2025Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast, Hawaii, United States
Feb 26, 2026Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States
Aug 10, 2024Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA
Let there be lights!
Mar 15, 2024Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, USA
The Jewel of Hampi
The Coast of Death
Oct 23, 2024Madame Sherri Forest, New Hampshire, United States
Dec 22, 2024Christmas tree at Crystal Pier, San Diego, California, United States
Blood moon
True masters of the jungle
Feb 15, 2025The natural ice wall of Misotsuchi, Chichibu, Japan
Sep 17, 2025A young bull moose
Apr 10, 2024Dragon waterfall, Venezuela
May 11, 2025Happy Mothers Day!
So fresh, so clean
Nov 13, 2024Sea lion in a kelp forest, Baja California, Mexico
Oct 10, 2024Ancient town of Sorano, Tuscany, Italy
Jul 7, 2024Rice terraces of Mù Cang Chải, Yên Bái province, Vietnam
Oct 23, 2025International Day of the Snow Leopard
Nov 24, 2023Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
Sep 10, 2024Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal
Feb 26, 2024Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan, India
Jan 20, 2026Penguin Awareness Day