Arabic version: مدرس لغة يلتقط صورة فريدة من نوعها لصبار في أريزونا

Joseph Cyr, a language teacher from Arizona, recently captured a striking photograph of a double crested saguaro cactus during a trail run in Saguaro National Park. The image, taken with an iPhone 16 Pro, features the cactus in a pose that Cyr describes as resembling a figure ‘proclaiming, preaching, pointing outward and upward.’

Cyr, who has lived in various locations including South Korea, Germany, Seattle, and Paris, was enjoying a quiet school holiday run when he spotted the enormous cactus. This species, found only in the Sonoran Desert, can grow as tall as a six-story building and live for over 200 years. Cyr noted that the first arms of a saguaro typically appear only when the plant reaches the age of 70.

The double crested saguaro that Cyr photographed is particularly rare, with only about 75 of these mutations identified among the estimated 2 million saguaros in the park. Cyr expressed his fascination with the plant’s anthropomorphic appearance, stating that its silhouette often resembles a person with outstretched arms.

Cyr’s photograph not only highlights the impressive scale of the cactus but also showcases the whimsical nature of the desert environment. He remarked that nature can evoke humor, reminding us that it is not always about the ‘sublime and majestic’ but can also be ‘awkward and whimsical.’ According to The Guardian, Cyr’s image captures both the beauty and humor found in nature.