The “Most alien-looking place on Earth” with the strange dragon tree
Socotra the entrance to the Gulf of Aden, located between the Gaurdafui channel and the Arabian Sea. It is the largest of four islands of the Socotra archipelago. The desert island, off the coast of Yemen, is considered to be a wonderland of sparkling clear blue beaches, rare ‘dragon blood’ trees, and frankincense forests. The territory is officially part of Yemen Government.
A Geological and botanical treasure, The Socotra Island also called the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean.” Nearly 825 plant species found on Socotra of which 37 percent are endemic, meaning they live nowhere else in the world.
The squat and bulbous subspecies of Adenium obesum, commonly called the desert rose tree. It produces beautiful gigantic pink flowers that paint the landscape with color and oddity in Socotra Island. The islands play host to as many as 11 unique bird species, and over 90 percent of reptiles and mollusks are endemic in nature.
In eras gone by, Greek and Arab sailors connected this peculiar and plentiful land with paradise. Some even regarded Socotra as part of the lost mythical continent of Atlantis.
The Dragon Blood tree
One of the popular species of the island is a dragon tree or dragon blood tree. An odd and alien-looking tree is so-called due to the red sap that the trees produce. The wonder tree also is known as the “upside-down umbrella tree” due to the unique shape of its branches and leaves. It is composed of bunches of dark green lance late leaves resting on the ends of short and fleshy twigs. It has very slow growth and its older specimens reach millions of ages.
The Socotra dragon tree is an iconic tree with a long history of commercial use. It is known only from the island of Socotra, Yemen, where it lives within remnants of prehistoric ‘Dragons blood’ forest on the Granite Mountains and limestone plateaus.
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Geography and Geology
Only 60 miles from the horn of Africa, Socotra is one of the most isolated landforms on Earth of continental origin. The archipelago was once part of the Gondwana supercontinent and detached during the Miocene epoch. It has the same set of rifting events that opened the Gulf of Aden to its northwest. For those interested in island evolution and biogeography, Socotra has become a fascinating case study.
The main Socotra Island has three geographical terrains-The narrow coastal plains, a limestone plateau with karst topography, and the Hajar Mountains of Granite. The mountains rise to 1,503 meters. The island is about 125 kilometers long and 45 kilometers its width.
The Diksam Plateau is the center of the Socotra Island and encompassing deep, winding limestone gorges and a Huge Granite mountain. The terrestrial nature sanctuaries, national parks, and areas of special botanical interest included about 75% of the total land area declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
The Socotra archipelago, particularly its main island, is the most neglected tourism destinations in the world. However, if you are looking for an adventurous vacation this is the right destination? Socotra is also a perfect destination for nature-loving travelers. The island takes pride in its Eco-tourism, spectacular plant, and wildlife that may only found on this island.
