Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona, USA Aug 31, 2023

Massive succulents against a mountainous backdrop, underneath the sun-kissed sky—it"s prickly perfection. Pictured here are saguaro (pronounced "sah-wah-roh") cacti at Arizona"s Ironwood Forest National Monument in the Sonoran Desert of North America. Even if you haven"t seen one in person, when you hear the word cactus, you"re probably thinking of saguaro—tall, green, cylindrical, with arms pointing upward. Though they are slow growers, these plants have been known to live over 200 years and reach enormous heights, with one setting the record at 23.8 metres. Another saguaro cactus, known as "Grandaddy," survived in the sweltering desert for about 300 years, eventually succumbing to old age in the early 1990s. Cacti may not be for everyone, but they tend to grow on you (figuratively, of course)!

© Jack Dykinga/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

Aug 31, 2024Sahara, Algeria
Aug 31, 2025Scotts Bluff National Monument

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Aug 27, 2025Sørvágsvatn lake, island of Vágar, Faroe Islands
Sep 21, 2023Inside the Nobel Peace Centre, Oslo, Norway
Jun 11, 2024A group of Southern gemsbok in the savannah, Botswana, USA
Jul 30, 2025Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain
Jan 4, 2025Bản Giốc – Detian Falls, Vietnam
Aug 30, 2023Whale shark, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Aug 13, 2025Corona Arch near Moab, Utah, United States
Jun 6, 2024Greater flamingos at Pont de Gau Ornithological Park, Camargue, France
Nov 5, 2024Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
Sep 26, 2025Least chipmunk
Nov 8, 2025Bandon Beach in Bandon, Oregon, United States
May 22, 2025Baobab trees at sunset, Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar
Oct 19, 2024Temple of Hathor, Dendera Temple Complex, Qena, Egypt
Dec 20, 2023Val Gardena, South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy
May 28, 2024The Monastery of Roussanou
Jan 19, 2026Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
Sep 18, 2025Dunquin Pier, County Kerry, Ireland
Jul 20, 2024The Moon
Jan 13, 2024Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Jun 14, 2024Peggys Cove Lighthouse, Canada
Nov 21, 2024Lion cubs, South Africa
Jun 16, 2025Sea turtle, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Jan 30, 2024Ayna, Albacete, Spain
Sep 7, 2024Annas hummingbird
Nov 24, 2023Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
Oct 1, 2025Clark Range, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Jul 8, 2024Blueberries growing in the wild
May 22, 2024Tasmanian snow gum, Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia
Mar 15, 2025The Temple of Saturn, Rome, Italy
Jan 26, 2026Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain