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Ecuador, Galapagos. Lava cactus. Bartolomé island.

A small but vital landmark

Lava Cactus is considered to be the tallest species in the world, and can live 150 years in the Galapagos Island. This species has developed special adaptations that allow it to survive in some of the most inhospitable volcanic places in the archipelago, like in Santiago Island, subsisting in arid ground with long periods of drought, surviving on the water that it collects, which is a skill acquired from an evolutionary process over hundreds of thousands of years. This plant is very important: it’s a landmark. It contributes to the natural balance of the environment, allowing many animals to survive in extreme conditions, in fact the lava cactus is a permanent source of water in the dry season. Animals drink water from its base and globular stalks.

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Uploaded on August 28, 2015
Taken on September 15, 2013