Splügen Pass, Switzerland Sep 19, 2023

Splügen Pass, Switzerland

With their twists and turns, record heights, and breathtaking vistas, mountain roads are not for the faint-hearted. Pictured here is the historic Splügen Pass, which winds its way through the Lepontine Alps, on the border of Switzerland and Italy. Although its modern version was built between 1818-1823, the Splügen Pass existed in some form as far back as Roman times. At 6,936 feet high, it is one of the highest paved roads in Europe, with 51 marked hairpin bends. It is closed in winter but, if spectacular mountainside views and picturesque lakes tickle your fancy, you can enjoy this ascent between June and mid-October. Have we "peaked" your interest yet?

© Roberto Moiola/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Sep 19, 2018Talk like a pirate—or walk the plank
Sep 19, 2019Fall for birding
Sep 19, 2020Arrr, it be Talk Like a Pirate Day
Sep 19, 2021Arrr! Can you talk like a pirate?
Sep 19, 2022State funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
Sep 19, 2024International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Sep 19, 2025Thousand Islands region, St. Lawrence River, US-Canada border

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 28, 2023World Maritime Day
Oct 7, 2019From the mind of Frank Gehry
Sep 17, 2024Mid-Autumn Festival
Jul 23, 2023Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
Apr 10, 2024Siblings Day
Jan 8, 2020Take the stairs
May 18, 2021International Museum Day
May 7, 2023World Laughter Day
Nov 18, 2022Keyholes to the kingdom
Aug 30, 2021Behold the perfect cone
Sep 18, 2023Fall Astronomy Week
Oct 6, 2025Anshun Bridge, Chengdu, China
May 7, 2019Spring comes to Glacier National Park
Feb 2, 2021Did it see its shadow?
Aug 16, 2018Keep your hands inside the ride at all times…
Sep 17, 2025A young bull moose in Denali National Park, Alaska
Feb 1, 2023Black History Month
Apr 28, 2021Coming home to roost
Mar 23, 2026World Meteorological Day
Nov 15, 2018‘Ocian in view! O! The joy.’
Mar 24, 2018Crimson-rumped toucanet in the Refugio Paz de Las Aves, Ecuador
Feb 19, 2018Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC
Dec 13, 2020The view will stop you in your tracks
Dec 15, 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
Jan 16, 2018Lionfish off the coast of Indonesia
Apr 29, 2020Spring comes to the Palouse
Dec 19, 2021Aurora borealis
Mar 26, 2025Manatee Appreciation Day
Jul 2, 2025Spine-cheeked anemonefish in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea
Jul 12, 2021A lofty lighthouse and a little ocean spray