Maldives Jan. 23, 2024

With serene sandy beaches and crystal-clear water, the island country of the Maldives is located to the southwest of Sri Lanka and India. The archipelago is renowned for its seafood, lagoons and countless coconut palms. These 1,200 islands are made up of a chain of 26 atolls. Atolls are islands in the shape of rings with coral rims and lagoons in their centre. The Maldives is also home to the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, which was granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status in June 2011. Visitors go there to spot manta rays and whale sharks and can enjoy sustainable water activities like scuba diving and surfing.

© Amazing Aerial Premium/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Big rocks, big heads, still counting?
Jan. 23, 2025Sundance Film Festival
Jan. 23, 2026Þorrablót, Icelandic midwinter festival

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov. 19, 2025Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary
Frosty Finland
Step back in time...
Nov. 30, 2023Saint Andrews Day
Man-made, meandering Lake Powell
Jun. 28, 2025Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising
A postcard-perfect landscape
Jun. 2, 2025Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador
Jan. 25, 2024Snowy owl
Oct. 7, 2023Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA
Mar. 20, 2024Cave Dale and Peveril Castle, England
Nov. 16, 2024Wadden Sea coast, Friesland, Netherlands
Where fire and water meet
Feb. 3, 2026Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Dec. 14, 2025Christmas Bird Count
Oct. 29, 2023Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia, USA
Feb. 18, 2025The Great Blue Hole, Belize
Sep. 1, 2025Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Celebrating the tropics
Dec. 10, 2023Sand dunes in the Sahara, Algeria
May 6, 2024The Roaches ridge in the Peak District, England
Aug. 27, 2024Young black caiman, Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
Nov. 20, 2025World Childrens Day
Feb. 2, 2025Groundhog Day
Jul. 1, 2025Happy Canada Day!
Sep. 6, 2024Glenariff Forest Park, Northern Ireland, UK
Apr. 6, 2024Japan Castle Day
Aug. 29, 2023Zelenci Nature Reserve, Slovenia
Willamette National Forest, Oregon
Dec. 25, 2025Merry Christmas!