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:

Apr 19, 2025First day of National Park Week
Jan 23, 2019Celebrating Pie Day is as easy as, well…
Nov 16, 2020A temple, preserved
Nov 8, 2024Glacial rivers in Iceland
Apr 16, 2019The birth of Bauhaus
Mar 30, 2022Belted Galloway cows
Jun 4, 2021Islands that turned the tide
Dec 17, 2020Pining for spring
Oct 24, 2019Bridge of Hillsborough County
Nov 19, 2021Zion National Park, Utah
Jan 28, 2022Short-eared owl
May 14, 2021A misty morning in Brazil
May 30, 2025Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
Apr 14, 2025National Dolphin Day
May 11, 2019Bringing together history and technology
Aug 28, 2022Bearded reedlings in Flevoland
Nov 5, 2023Playa del Silencio, Spain
Mar 16, 2024National Panda Day
Sep 21, 2021An old celebration for a new season
Oct 11, 2019Art in the high desert
Apr 24, 2023Old underground cellar, Bavaria, Germany
Mar 17, 2026Happy St. Patricks Day!
Jun 13, 2019A unique elephant encounter in Nantes
Nov 7, 2021Mack Arch Rock
Jan 25, 2018Sami lavvu structures, Finnmark, Norway
Sep 3, 2022Skyscraper Day
Apr 8, 2020Santorini through the clouds
May 12, 2020Nursing the world to health
Apr 27, 2020That s quite a schnoz, baby tapir
Feb 7, 2018The Kelpies statues in Falkirk, Scotland