South Padre Island, Texas Apr 27, 2023

South Padre Island, Texas

Located a few miles offshore on the Texas Gulf Coast, Padre Island is the largest of the state"s string of barrier islands. At 113 miles in length, it is also the longest barrier island in the world. Barrier islands usually run parallel to the coast and, as the name suggests, serve as the mainland"s first line of defense against storms.

© Jeff R Clow/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Apr 27, 2018National Park Week: Yosemite National Park, California
Apr 27, 2019Aloe in bloom
Apr 27, 2020That s quite a schnoz, baby tapir
Apr 27, 2021Design for Each and All
Apr 27, 2022Midnight sun
Apr 27, 2024National Go Birding Day
Apr 27, 2025Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec 3, 2022Art Basel Miami Beach
Jan 31, 2024International Zebra Day
May 8, 2020Victory in Europe, 75 years ago
Sep 26, 2023Venice Skatepark, Los Angeles, California
Jan 21, 2019A day of service for Dr. King
Jun 1, 2022World Reef Day
Dec 14, 2025Audubon Christmas Bird Count
Mar 7, 2022Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
May 19, 2020Loud waters
Feb 20, 2020Après-ski in the Dolomites
Jun 7, 2023Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
Nov 6, 2019Saffron in bloom
Mar 30, 2023Bright and colorful peacock feathers
Feb 20, 2024Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, England
Nov 4, 2025Tower Bridge, London, England
Nov 9, 2023Birch trees, Drammen, Norway
Apr 1, 2020It s Census Day—make it count
Apr 5, 2022Goðafoss waterfall, Iceland
May 22, 2021Blue paradise on the Costa Brava
Jan 22, 2023Mountain hare hopping into Lunar New Year
Oct 25, 2022 Park of the Monsters, Bomarzo, Italy
Jun 5, 2024World Environment Day
May 29, 2023Memorial Day
May 7, 2018Happy 300th, NOLA!
Aug 6, 2021Looking down upon Edinburgh
Oct 12, 2018Venture into a prehistoric gallery of art
Jul 13, 2021Through an artist s eyes
Aug 28, 2018Class, please take out a No. 2 pencil…
Sep 29, 2020A crush in Lavaux
Oct 12, 2023Farmers Day