The northwestern part of Indian Ocean houses one of the world's finest archipelagos, the mountainous Socotra. Characterized by unique spectacular vegetation and breathtaking unspoiled natural beauty, Socotra Islands form part of the Yemen republic and are located about 350 kilometers south of the Arabian Peninsula. Covering a land area of 3,650 square kilometers, and populated mainly by Muslims, Socotra comprises the administrative districts of Hadibo and Qalansiya, which also include the islands of Abdul Kuri, Darsa and Samhah. Hadibo is the administrative capital of Socotra where most people have settled down. Though Hadibo houses only 4 hotel accommodations, which are very simple and far from being big and luxurious, and very few public restrooms with simple eating facilities, nevertheless, Socotra is considered a majestic and blissful island.
the main island of Socotra is very isolated and through the process of speciation, a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet.
Socotra Island has also been called the most alien looking place on earth due to its crazy looking trees and animal inhabitants. For some reason, life on this island has evolved differently from the rest of the world. If someone knocked out suddenly woke up on this island, they would certainly think they were on a different planet altogether.
The branches spread out into the sky and from below appear to hover over the landscape like so many flying saucers... and from above they have a distinct mushroom look.
A Dragon’s Blood Tree (Dracaena cinnabari) is seen in front of the Skund mountains on the island of Socotra, Yemen. The tree is so named because any injury to the bark results in a deep red liquid excreting from the scar – compared in the past to the Blood of Dragons.
Socotra is home to more than 800 species of plants, some 240 of which are endemic to the island, and there are certainly many more plant species that have yet to be discovered. The climate is harsh, hot and dry, and yet - the most amazing plant life thrives there.
Socotra is 95% of the whole landmass, while the rest is just small islands. This place is probably the most alien-looking on Earth. One third of the flora and fauna on this island, administered by Yemen government, can be found only here. The umbrella-shaped “blood tree,” the cucumber tree, giant succulent tree, different kinds of birds, spiders, bats and cats have the only habitat on Socotra.
A Socotran Fig Tree (Dorstenia gigas) with a bizare swollen trunk that almost has human proportions grows against a limestone rock face on the island of Socotra. The plants are one of over 300 plant species endemic to the island.
Like the Galapagos Islands, this island is teeming with 700 extremely rare species of flora and fauna, a full 13 of which are endemic, i.e. found nowhere else on Earth.
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