Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China Aug 18, 2023

These stunning stone spires, rising from the forest in China"s Hunan province, are said to have inspired the floating mountains of the movie "Avatar." There are more than 3,000 of these quartz-sandstone pillars in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, often swathed in mist, part of a spectacular landscape that has inspired generations of painters. These days, they are popularly known as the "Avatar Mountains" and one, the 3,544-foot-high Southern Sky Pillar, was officially renamed as "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain" in 2010, the year after the blockbuster movie was released.

© Amazing Aerial Premium/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Aug 18, 2018Is that a buzzing sound?
Aug 18, 2019A splash by the sea
Aug 18, 2020Women s suffrage at 100
Aug 18, 2021Pearl of the Adriatic
Aug 18, 2022Surströmming Day
Aug 18, 2024Huntington Beach Pier, California, at sunset
Aug 18, 2025Avalanche Lake Trail at Adirondack High Peaks, New York

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 21, 2019A day of service for Dr. King
May 3, 2025Happy International Astronomy Day!
Jan 16, 2022Hot and Spicy Food Day
May 25, 2021An improbable tribute for Towel Day
Dec 5, 2018’Chess on ice’
Dec 25, 2025Merry Christmas!
Feb 10, 2018Bonifacio on the island of Corsica, France
Dec 18, 2020A towering view of the Pale Mountains
Dec 26, 2021Happy Boxing Day!
Nov 24, 2025Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh, India
Jun 12, 2020Big sky at Big Bend
May 14, 2021A misty morning in Brazil
Sep 28, 2020Explorer of the sea
Dec 20, 2025Christmas star lanterns, Germany
Jan 12, 2024Bukhansan National Park, South Korea
Nov 28, 2023Giving Tuesday
Aug 14, 2019Lizard of mystery
Jan 28, 2026Whanganui National Park, Retaruke, New Zealand
Apr 12, 2021In orbit for Yuri s Night
Jun 25, 2020Hoisting a flag for seafarers
Nov 14, 2021First Cliff Walk
Apr 15, 2018The ‘Living Forest’ in Biscay, Spain
Aug 2, 2019An uncommon look at an American icon
Mar 3, 2025World Wildlife Day
Mar 12, 2026Juvenile sunbittern displaying at nest, Ecuador
Jun 2, 2022Queen Elizabeth s Platinum Jubilee
Feb 8, 2021A hero for the 21st century
Jun 8, 2018Green sea turtle on World Oceans Day
Oct 23, 2021Eurasian scops owl
Apr 5, 2018Mada’in Saleh archeological site in Saudi Arabia