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Saguaro cactus
Tower of thorns
You've likely seen this stately cactus used as a symbol of Mexican or American Southwest culture. But perhaps not from this low angle, which really underscores the towering heights that the saguaro can reach. Native to the Sonoran Desert, these multi-pronged, spiky spires can grow higher than 12 metres and, after soaking up a heavy monsoon rain, may weigh up to 2,200 kilograms. The desert's isolated-yet-heavy downpours allow the saguaro to store vast amounts of water that keep it standing proud through long droughts.
Tower of thorns
You've likely seen this stately cactus used as a symbol of Mexican or American Southwest culture. But perhaps not from this low angle, which really underscores the towering heights that the saguaro can reach. Native to the Sonoran Desert, these multi-pronged, spiky spires can grow higher than 12 metres and, after soaking up a heavy monsoon rain, may weigh up to 2,200 kilograms. The desert's isolated-yet-heavy downpours allow the saguaro to store vast amounts of water that keep it standing proud through long droughts.
Native to the Sonoran Desert, these multi-pronged, spiky spires can grow higher than 12 metres.
© Oleg Kovtun / iStock / Getty Images Plus 2026-09-11 08:45:51 :