Old Rock Day Jan 7, 2026

Old Rock Day

Today is a day that puts time into perspective. Old Rock Day highlights the vast geological processes that have shaped our world since its earliest eras. In Arches National Park, Utah, Turret Arch—seen through North Window—offers a striking reminder: landscapes can take hundreds of millions of years to assemble. The Entrada Sandstone that forms these arches began as shifting dunes and shallow seas long before erosion carved today"s shapes. Even so, these formations are relatively young. Most rocks on Earth disappear over time because plate tectonics, erosion, and volcanism continually recycle the crust. Only the planet"s ancient continental shields preserve truly old material. Canada"s Acasta Gneiss, about 4 billion years old, is the oldest known rock still rooted where it formed.

© Jim Patterson/TANDEM Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Jan 7, 2019An avian predator built for the snow
Jan 7, 2020Jupiter and the Galilean moons
Jan 7, 2021Of balloons and lost pantaloons
Jan 7, 2022Nazaré Lighthouse
Jan 7, 2023Yarn for Distaff Day
Jan 7, 2024Old Rock Day
Jan 7, 2025Moeraki Boulders, South Island, New Zealand

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 22, 2018Time for brass bands and beer
Mar 19, 2019The smoke before the bonfire
Apr 22, 2025Earth Day
Nov 18, 2018An inland ocean
May 15, 2024The Blue City of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Jun 4, 2025The beach at Cala Luna, Sardinia, Italy
Jan 26, 2019Visiting a Maratha fortress
Apr 12, 2023Earth seen from the International Space Station
Sep 13, 2022Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Apr 3, 2019Dark skies over New Mexico
Nov 19, 2024Tasmans Arch, Tasmania, Australia
Feb 21, 2026Red fox, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Mar 22, 2020Celebrating World Water Day
Jul 16, 2018Instant romance
Mar 13, 2018Wayag Islands in the Raja Ampat Islands of Indonesia
Apr 17, 2024Black bear cub emerging into spring
Oct 5, 2025World Teachers Day
Jul 2, 2022Halfway Day
Jun 21, 2024World Giraffe Day
May 30, 2025Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
Mar 28, 2018Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve in Layton, Utah
Jun 12, 2025Big Bend National Park in Texas turns 81
Feb 28, 2025Tibetan New Year
Feb 15, 2021Presidents hear the echo of history
Feb 19, 2024Presidents Day
Jan 18, 2020Sands of time
Jun 30, 2018The aftermath of a meteorite
Jun 28, 2025Pride 2025
Jun 30, 2023Brown bears in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Dec 2, 2021Denali National Park