Socotra Island is a famous place in the Indian Ocean. This is one of the most amazing and extraordinary miracles on the entire planet. It is a real treasure of the rarest flora and fauna, the bearer of a unique culture and traditions.
Geography
Not everyone knows where Socotra Island is and how to get there. But if you happen to visit there, then it will be remembered for a lifetime. This extraordinary place is an archipelago of 4 islands and 2 rocks in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Somalia.
This archipelago includes 3 islands: Socotra, Abd al-Kuri and Samha, the uninhabited island of Darsa, as well as the rocks of Sabuniya and Kal-Firaun. Geographically, it is divided into two districts: Hadibo and Qalansiya and Abd al-Kuri. Socotra is closer to Africa than Arabia, which makes it a unique Hybrid Flavor Island.
An unforgettable picture can be seen if you fly by plane over this wonderful place called the island of Socotra. The sea is unusually saturated blue, but at the same time surprisingly clear water washes its shores.
Flora and fauna
Even during the first expedition toSocotra, which was in 1880, British scientists discovered more than 200 species of plants and animals unknown to science at that time (20 of which belonged to 20 new genera).
Due to the peculiarities of the climate (intense heat in summer and mild climate in winter), a unique flora and fauna was born on the archipelago. Socotra Island is a UNESCO World Organization site. There are about 825 plant species and more than 500 animal species on the island, a third of which are endemic (that is, they are found only in this area).
Flora and fauna of the underwater world of the archipelago is very diverse around the island of Socotra. The islands, photos with incredible beauty of which can be seen in many encyclopedias, as well as in the Red Book, are also exceptional in that the rarest black pearl in the world is mined here.
Amazing Plants
There are many unique trees on the island that amaze with their unusual appearance. One of them is the "desert rose". Despite its beautiful name, it does not at all resemble a rose. The plant looks more like a flowering elephant leg. The round trunk of the tree serves as a storage of moisture, which is used during the drought period and can reach up to 2 meters in diameter.
Another “unusual” plant that has covered the lower part of the slopes is the cucumber tree. Its fruits really look like cucumbers, but only with thorns. Despite the fact that outwardly this amazing plant of the island of Socotra does not at all resemble a vegetable, scientists attributed it to the gourd family.
One moreThe "attraction" of this island is the giant dorsenthia. This plant resembles a space alien that has flown to earth. It has a thick trunk with a diameter of up to a meter and branches with small, slightly elongated leaves. On the archipelago, Dorsentia reaches 4 meters in height. Something like a "money tree", and the flowers resemble starfish.
Aichaft Nature Reserve
The glory of Socotra Island, as one of the unique places on the planet, has spread due to its indescribable beauty and unique nature. One of the most beautiful places is the Eichaft nature reserve. This is a fairly long canyon covered with greenery. It is located near the airport near Socotra Island.
At the end of the gorge is a small lake where tourists often stay overnight. The pride of this reserve are specimens such as giant tamarind and frankincense.
Dragon Blood Trees
The Dragon Tree Forest is considered the official reserve of Socotra Island, which can only be traveled on foot. It is named after the trees of an unusual shape, which look like a mushroom about 10 meters high with a green hat. Some of them are over a thousand years old.
If you cut the bark of this tree, then red juice flows out of it. Since ancient times, ancestors have used it in folk medicine, as well as for cosmetic purposes. And now it is used for these purposes, it is part of some cosmetics.
The capital of Yemen (Sana'a)
This city is located on a mountain hill, at a heightmore than 2000 meters. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides. A long time ago, this part of the city was fenced off by a fortress wall. It had seven gates, of which only one remained. Near them is a traditional oriental market.
At the end of the 19th century, the city was one of the largest centers for the trade of coffee and spices. Its main advantage is its unique architecture. Buildings in the area are made in the style of "gingerbread" houses, which can not be seen anywhere else.
There are about 50 mosques of different heights and sizes in the city, for which Sana was called multi-towered in ancient times. The symbol of Yemen is the Dar al-Hajar Palace or, as it is also called, the Rock Palace. It is built in the style of Yemenite architecture. This palace was built at the beginning of the 20th century. Then it was restored and turned into a museum that tourists can visit.
Hok Cave
This amazingly beautiful attraction is located on the eastern side of Socotra Island, about 1.5-2 hours drive from the city of Hadibo. On the slopes of the mountain you can see amazing bottle trees. They have soft-touch trunks and pink flowers.
At an altitude of 500 meters, on a mountainside, in a place with an extraordinary view of the blue Arabian Sea, is the entrance to the largest cave in Southwest Asia. Khok Cave is one of the deepest on the island (its depth is 3.2 km) and is unforgettable because it contains a large number of stalactites and stalagmites of absolutely different sizes and shapes.
A little further along the tunnel you can see rock paintings that date back to the 3rd century, as well as a hall with a mirror lake (4 meters wide, 10 meters long, and 3-4 meters deep).
It is worth noting that Socotra is an island, tours to which are organized through Sanaa. The best hotels and inns are located in the city of Hadibo, on the territory there is a shower, toilet and a restaurant. It is convenient to take excursions and organize individual programs with visits to little-known places. Also nearby is Delisha Beach with a white sand dune or, as it is also called, "sandy beach".
Unfortunately, tourism on the island of Socotra is just beginning to develop. There are approximately 1500-2000 tourists per year, so they do not affect the state of the environment. We althy people like to visit this place very much. Exotic atmosphere is the best way to diversify your usual leisure. Perhaps soon the trip to the island will become more accessible and in demand.
Although this is not yet the most popular tourist destination, I would like to note that Socotra is a unique, amazing and very unusual place. Therefore, there is no need to think about whether to see its beauty.
