Random Windows Spotlight images

The ice-choked lagoon called Jökulsárlón formed in the 1920s when part of the massive Vatnajökull glacier began to pull away from the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean on Iceland's southeastern coast. The depression left in the land gradually filled with melting ice, and by 1934, Iceland had a new glacial lagoon. As other glaciers in the icefield calve, hunks of ice plunge into Jökulsárlón, reflecting the blue water and creating a breathtaking scene popular with visitors to the nearby Vatnajökull National Park.

Famed underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau thought this was one of the best diving spots in the world. At more than 1,000 feet across and 400 feet deep, the Great Blue Hole offers experienced divers a plunge into a dark realm of limestone stalactites, and perhaps a hammerhead shark or two. Folks wanting a bit more color (or who just aren't happy with all that murky depth) can explore the crystalline waters and teeming sea life surrounding Lighthouse Reef atoll, part of the enormous Belize Barrier Reef system, the second-largest in the world after Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Here in the high desert of Central Oregon, Smith Rock State Park beckons climbers from around the world with its cliffs of tuff and basalt. Considered by many to be the birthplace of American sport climbing, it's home to nearly 2,000 climbing routes offering many levels of difficulty. For those happier with their feet firmly planted on the ground, Smith Rock State Park offers the usual range of outdoor activities, including biking, hiking, and wildlife watching—prairie falcons, golden eagles, and mule deer can all be spotted here.

Visitors who come to the park just to admire the breathtaking scenery won't be disappointed. Our image features one of the area's best views: The Crooked River winds below the sheer cliffs it's carved a path through for millions of years.

Intricate brickwork fairly glows as sunlight falls on an interior courtyard of the Tinmal Mosque. Built in the 12th century, the structure was partially reconstructed in the 20th, and stands as one of the greatest examples of ">Intricate brickwork fairly glows as sunlight falls on an interior courtyard of the Tinmal Mosque. Built in thIntricate brickwork fairly glows as sunlight falls on an interior courtyard of the Tinmal Mosque. Built in the 12th century, the structure was partially reconstructed in the 20th, and stands as one of the greatest examples of Almohad architecture. The setting of Tinmal Mosque is just as extraordinary as the building itself—it tops a hill in Tinmel, a small but historic village that was once the spiritual and cultural center of the Almohad empire. Tucked into the superbly scenic High Atlas Mountains of central Morocco, the village and mosque remain important and treasured links to the region's past.