Socotra Island - An Alien Looking Place

My friend emailed me some of the following photos and they have prompted me to look for more information on this unique island.


Socotra is part of the Republic of Yeman. The island was recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage site in July 2008.


The island is a little over 130 km long east to west and about 33 km north to south. Population of about 42,000, predominantly Arab.

The island is very isolated, a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet. The climate is harsh, hot and dry. One of the most striking of Socotra's plants is the dragon's blood tree



A strange-looking, umbrella-shaped tree. Its red sap was thought to be the dragon's blood of the ancients, sought after as a medicine and a dye.


Other endemic plants include the cucumber tree.

Desert Rose that can grow on rock

Desert rose

Flower of incense tree

One of its kind beach in Socotra. Look at the sand

Halah Cave

Town

For more photos and information, please visit Summer Land Hotel



(images credit: Jan Vandorpe, Marco Pavan and Summerlandsocotra.com)