J.R.R. Tolkien Day Jan 3, 2026

J.R.R. Tolkien Day

Our picture of the day takes us to the Swiss village of Lauterbrunnen, where the Staubbach Falls shimmers in the distance beyond a quiet alpine valley. This is the landscape a young traveler, J.R.R. Tolkien, crossed during a hiking trip in 1911, long before he became the storyteller behind "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit." Its soaring cliffs, silver waterfalls, and crisp mountain air left a lasting impression and are believed to have inspired his vision of Rivendell, the elven refuge hidden deep in Middle-earth.

© pongnathee kluaythong/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Jan 3, 2019How do ladybugs winter?
Jan 3, 2020 Field of Light at Sensorio by Bruce Munro
Jan 3, 2021An Alpine fairy-tale castle
Jan 3, 2022Lick Observatory
Jan 3, 2023Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Jan 3, 2024J.R.R. Tolkien Day
Jan 3, 2025Happy Birthday, J.R.R. Tolkien!

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 26, 2020Red skies at Ruby Beach
Jun 15, 2025Happy Fathers Day!
Jul 11, 2021Why, aloe there
Mar 4, 2024Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
Dec 13, 2021Old Town Quito
Dec 14, 2018Time to count some birds
Jan 26, 2023Heavens Gate Cave, Tianmen Mountain National Park, China
Nov 7, 2022Lunar eclipse
Dec 11, 2018‘The mountains are calling’
Mar 1, 2024Womens History Month
Mar 16, 2021Why does this panda cub look so happy?
Sep 24, 2023World Rivers Day
Apr 30, 2023International Jazz Day
Oct 23, 2025International Day of the Snow Leopard
Sep 25, 2025Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
Sep 15, 2023National Hispanic Heritage Month
Mar 7, 2024Roques de Benet, Els Ports Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
Jul 30, 2021Working for that cliffside view
Feb 7, 2025Blue hour in Trondheim, Norway
Dec 8, 2018How lovely are your branches
Jul 22, 2019Let’s go mothing
Mar 28, 2021Cherry blossoms spring to life
Aug 23, 2018Riding the bore tide at Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, Alaska
Jun 27, 2022Lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau in Provence, France
Nov 3, 2021World Jellyfish Day
Apr 23, 2023World Book Day
Oct 29, 2018In search of a ‘great’ pumpkin
Jun 20, 2018Today is World Refugee Day
Jun 6, 2022Indigo bunting
Jun 26, 2025Horse Head Rock, New South Wales, Australia