23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Life, Everywhere

Vegetation clings to the columnar basalt cliffs of Nosy Mitsio, Madagascar. Formed by slow cooling lava, these towers offer rare footholds for plant life. I photographed them while documenting the Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute and training as a rescue diver.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2023
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: Madagascar
Copyright: © Wiktoria West