Socotra Island

The most alien-looking place on the earth .
Socotra is an archipelago of four islands located in the Arabian Sea, the largest island of which is also known as Socotra.
The territory is part of Yemen, and had long been a subdivision of the Aden Governorate. In 2004, it became attached to the Hadhramaut Governorate, which is much closer to the island than Aden (although the nearest governorate was the Al Mahrah Governorate.
In 2013, the archipelago became its own governorate, the Socotra Governorate.
It lies some 240 kilometers (150 mi) east of the Horn of Africa and 380 kilometers (240 mi) south of the Arabian Peninsula.
The archipelago consists of the main island of Socotra (3,665 km2), the three smaller islands of Abd al Kuri, Samhah and Darsa.
The main island has three geographical terrains:
the narrow coastal plains.
limestone plateau permeated with karstic caves.
Haghier Mountains.
In the 1990s, a team of United Nations biologists conducted a survey of the archipelago’s flora and fauna. They counted nearly 700 endemic species, found nowhere else on earth.
Botanical field surveys led by the Centre for Middle Eastern Plants, part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, indicate that 307 out of the 825 (37%) plant species on Socotra are endemic.
One of the most striking of Socotra's plants is the dragon's blood tree. Also Aloes, Dorstenia gigas, Aloe perryi, the rare Socotran pomegranate (Punica protopunica), and and Boswellia socotrana.
Fauna

The island group also has a rich fauna, including several endemic species of birds, such as the Socotra starling (Onychognathus frater), the Socotra sunbird (Nectarinia balfouri), Socotra bunting (Emberiza socotrana), Socotra cisticola (Cisticola haesitatus), Socotra sparrow (Passer insularis), Socotra golden-winged grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus socotranus), and a species in a monotypic genus, the Socotra warbler (Incana incana).
The reptiles species include skinks, legless lizards, and one species of chameleon, Chamaeleo monachus.
There are many endemic invertebrates, including several spiders (such as the tarantula Monocentropus balfouri) and three species of freshwater crabs
Fauna

The island group also has a rich fauna, including several endemic species of birds, such as the Socotra starling (Onychognathus frater), the Socotra sunbird (Nectarinia balfouri), Socotra bunting (Emberiza socotrana), Socotra cisticola (Cisticola haesitatus), Socotra sparrow (Passer insularis), Socotra golden-winged grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus socotranus), and a species in a monotypic genus, the Socotra warbler (Incana incana).
The reptiles species include skinks, legless lizards, and one species of chameleon, Chamaeleo monachus.
There are many endemic invertebrates, including several spiders (such as the tarantula Monocentropus balfouri) and three species of freshwater crabs

1. SOCOTRA

2. UNESCO recognition The island was recognised by the (UNESCO) as a world natural heritage site in July 2008. The European Union has supported such a move, calling on both UNESCO and International Organization of Protecting Environment to classify the island archipelago among the environmental heritages .

3. Socotra is an archipelago of four islands located in the Arabian Sea , the largest island of which is also known as Socotra. The territory is part of Yemen , and had long been a subdivision of the Aden Governorate . In 2004, it became attached to the Hadhramaut Governorate , which is much closer to the island than Aden (although the nearest governorate was the Al Mahrah Governorate . In 2013, the archipelago became its own governorate , the Socotra Governorate . It lies some 240 kilometers (150 mi) east of the Horn of Africa and 380 kilometers (240 mi) south of the Arabian Peninsula .

4. Geography The archipelago consists of the main island of Socotra (3,665  km 2 ), the three smaller islands of Abd al Kuri , Samhah and Darsa . The main island has three geographical terrains: the narrow coastal plains . limestone plateau permeated with karstic caves . Haghier Mountains.

5. Mountains and Trekking Dixam plateau- Wadi Dirhur Homhil Wadi Dafarher Hagier mountains Wadi Ayhfat

6. Climate The climate is a tropical desert climate and semi-desert climate with a mean annual temperature over 25 °C.

7. Flora In the 1990s, a team of United Nations biologists conducted a survey of the archipelago’s flora and fauna . They counted nearly 700 endemic species, found nowhere else on earth . Botanical field surveys led by the Centre for Middle Eastern Plants , part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh , indicate that 307 out of the 825 (37%) plant species on Socotra are endemic. One of the most striking of Socotra's plants is the dragon's blood tree. Also Aloes , Dorstenia gigas , Aloe perryi , the rare Socotran pomegranate ( Punica protopunica ), and and Boswellia socotrana .  

8. Fauna The island group also has a rich fauna, including several endemic species of birds , such as the Socotra starling ( Onychognathus frater ), the Socotra sunbird ( Nectarinia balfouri ), Socotra bunting ( Emberiza socotrana ), Socotra cisticola ( Cisticola haesitatus ), Socotra sparrow ( Passer insularis ), Socotra golden-winged grosbeak ( Rhynchostruthus socotranus ), and a species in a monotypic genus, the Socotra warbler ( Incana incana ). The reptiles species include skinks, legless lizards, and one species of chameleon , Chamaeleo monachus . There are many endemic invertebrates, including several spiders (such as the tarantula Monocentropus balfouri ) and three species of freshwater crabs

9. Summer Land Hotel

10. Thank you Abdullah Qubati [email protected]