Image id: 09ECU-3642

On Punta (Point) Espinoza, Tom Dempsey photographed this lava cactus (Brachycereus nesioticus, the sole species of the genus Brachycereus) on Fernandina (Narborough) Island, Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. Fernandina was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus. Fernandina is the youngest and westernmost island of the Galápagos archipelago, and has a maximum altitude of 1,494 metres (4,902 feet). Tourists are allowed to visit Punta Espinosa, a narrow stretch of land where hundreds of Marine Iguanas gather largely on black lava rocks. The Flightless Cormorant, Galápagos Penguins, Pelicans and Sea Lions are abundant on this island of lava flows and Mangrove Forests.