Baobab trees at sunset, Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar

© Framalicious/Shutterstoc

Baobab trees at sunset, Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar

Today's image features Madagascar's Avenue of the Baobabs. In the Menabe region of western Madagascar, Grandidier's baobabs line the unpaved Road No. 8. Also known as giant baobabs, they are the largest and most famous of Madagascar's baobab species. With their root-like branches stretching toward the sky, baobabs have an almost otherworldly presence.

Their massive, thick trunks act as natural reservoirs, storing water during the rainy season and providing a vital lifeline in the harsh, arid landscapes where resources are scarce. Locally known as renala or reniala ('mother of the forest'), these trees are remnants of the lush tropical forests that once covered this island country. Now, they stand alone as survivors of widespread deforestation. Though the area was declared a natural monument in 2015, these magnificent trees still face threats from further deforestation, rice field runoff and seasonal fires.