The Alien Beauty of Socotra Island

Socotra Island is an isolated area, situated around 250 miles off the coast of Yemen. It is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. The exclusive characteristic of Socotra Island is that it is home to some of the weirdest-looking plants that are found nowhere else on planet Earth. The largest member of the archipelago is also called Socotra.

Socotra is also spelled Sokotra, Arabic Suquṭrā, Island. Socotra Island is an archipelago formed of four islands, near the Gulf of Aden. It is very isolated and has a harsh, hot, and dry climate. It used to be part of Africa six million years ago. The trees are out of Land of the Lost, and the feeling you have is like nowhere else.

Socotra Island is swarming with more than 800 rare species of plants, of which more than a third are endemic. Extremely high levels of endemism also take place in Socotra’s reptiles. Also, 90% of its reptile species and 95% of its land snail species do not occur anywhere else on the earth.

In recognition of its distinct plant and animal life, the archipelago was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. The Socotra Island has a rich fauna, including several endemic species of birds, i.e., the Socotra starling, the Socotra sunbird, the Socotra bunting, the Socotra cisticola, Socotra sparrow, the Socotra golden-winged grosbeak, and a species in a monotypic genus, the Socotra warbler.

Socotra Island marine life is very diverse, with 253 species of reef-building corals, 730 species of coastal fish, and 300 species of crab, lobster, and shrimp well represented in the property’s marine areas. Socotra Island is considerably inhibited and has been for more than 2,000 years. Almost 50,000 people now live on the main island of the archipelago, engaged in fishing, animal husbandry, and the cultivation of dates, which are the primary occupations of the indigenous population.

In 2010, a Russian archaeological team discovered the ruins of a city on Socotra dating to the second century. The island is also held by some to be the location of the original Garden of Eden, due to its isolation, biological diversity. However, the fact that it is located on the edge of Yemen’s Gulf of Aden, which many connect with the ancient Sumerian tales of a paradise called Dilmun,.

More than 250 million years ago, Socotra Island stood apart, when all planets were joined and most main life forms roamed freely. Socotra has been breeding many species of plants, birds, and animals. The most famous plant is the secular Cinnabar or Dragon’s Blood Tree, “Dracaena cinnabari,”  which is an umbrella-shaped tree.

Locals have different superstitions about this tree, believing that its red sap thought to be the dragon’s blood of the ancients. However, this plant is used in medicine, dye, paint, varnish, various endemic aloes, and cosmetics. Socotra’s isolation from other landmasses meant whatever evolutionary process the flora and fauna underwent never spread to the mainland.

Another great plant is the Desert Rose Tree (Adenium obesium), which appears to have some captivating forms that are trying to penetrate the rocky soil. It also produces striking, massive pink flowers in April. Its trunk is a precious reservoir of water for this area with a nearly desert climate, and it can reach five meters in height and three meters in diameter. Other endemic plants include the massive succulent tree Dorstenia gigas, the cucumber treem Moraceae, Dendrosicyos socotranus, the rare Socotran pomegranate (Punica protopunica), Aloe perryi, and Boswellia socotrana.

In the interior, nomads keep cattle and other animals and raise some crops. Socotra Island’s main exports are ghee (clarified butter), fish, and frankincense. On the other hand, the only mammals native to Socotra are bats. However, on the island, there are many cats and dogs, which are much bigger than the European ones, reaching up to 27 pounds.

Socotra has unbelievable Alien beauty and natural habitat, mesmerizing place, and welcoming, simple people. Socotra Island has an airport facility. The best time to visit Island is from October till April. The other months have heavy monsoon rainfall, making it difficult for tourists to survive and flights are often canceled. Moreover, keep in mind Socotra Island doesn’t have any well-established hotels, only a few guest houses for travelers to stay in.

Also Read: Thilafushi: A Garbage Island of Maldives

Source: Britannica! The Atlantic