Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California, United States Dec 13, 2025

Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California, United States

Every masterpiece needs a brushstroke to tie it together. For Yosemite National Park, in the United States, that stroke is the Merced River—painting reflections of granite cliffs, pine forests and waterfalls across its canvas. One of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers, this waterway begins high in the Sierra Nevada. It gathers meltwater and winds 233 kilometres west through Yosemite Valley into California"s Central Valley.

© Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Dec 13, 2023Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Dec 13, 2024St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest, Hungary

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul 23, 2024Methoni Castle, Messinia, Greece
May 4, 2025Plaza de España, Seville, Spain
Aug 30, 2023Whale shark, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
May 8, 2024Château dIf, Marseille, France
Sep 29, 2025Rainbow houses, Netherlands
Sep 5, 2023Mount Segla, Senja Island, Norway
Mar 3, 2024Leopard in a tree, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Jan 25, 2024Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales, United Kingdom
Oct 13, 2025Waterfall at Wimbachklamm Gorge, Bavaria, Germany
Aug 4, 2025Great grey owls
Mar 13, 2025Gran Paradiso National Park, Piedmont, Italy
Nov 29, 2025Red deer stag in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands
Dec 25, 2023Reindeer running in snow
Jul 19, 2025Luna moth
Oct 18, 2023Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA
Jan 19, 2026Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
Jul 16, 2024Skara Brae, Scotland
Apr 24, 2024White trilliums in Ontario, Canada
Apr 28, 2025Impala in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Nov 29, 2024Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
Sep 27, 2023French River, Ontario, Canada
Jun 12, 2025Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas, United States
Jul 11, 2024Gangi, Sicily, Italy
Nov 30, 2024Kilchurn Castle, Scotland
Jan 7, 2025Moeraki Boulders, South Island, New Zealand
Mar 26, 2025Manatee in Crystal River, Florida, United States
Nov 24, 2023Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
Jul 29, 2025Bengal tiger, India
Dec 24, 2024Half-timbered Houses of Freudenberg, Germany
Oct 29, 2025Ancient til trees in Fanal Forest, Madeira, Portugal