The awful island of Socotra

he mysterious and awful island of Socotra

Socotra or Soqotra (Arabic سُقُطْرَى ; Suquṭra) is a small archipelago of four islands and islets in the Indian
Ocean off the coast of the Horn of Africa some 190 nautical miles (220 mi; 350 km) south of the
Arabian peninsula.

It is so isolated that a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet.
It has been described as the most alien-looking place on Earth.

Socotra is part of the Republic of Yemen.

It has long been a part of the 'Adan Governorate, but in 2004 it became attached to the Hadhramaut
Governorate, which is much closer to the island than 'Adan (although the closest governorate would be Al
Mahrah).

Socotra is considered the "jewel" of biodiversity in the Arabian sea.[2] The long geological isolation of the
Socotra archipelago and its fierce heat and drought have combined to create a unique and spectacular
endemic flora (which may, therefore, be vulnerable to introduced species such as goats).

Surveys have revealed that more than a third of the 800 or so plant species of Socotra are found nowhere
else.

Botanists rank the flora of Socotra among the ten most endangered island flora in the world.

The archipelago is a site of global importance for biodiversity conservation and a possible center for
ecotourism.

socotra island