Socotra - alien like planet in Indian ocean

Socotra – alien like planet in Indian ocean

Socotra is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. The largest island of archipelago is also called Socotra and it is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It lies off some east of the Horn of Africa and south of the Arabian Peninsula. The island has been geographically isolated from mainland Africa for the last 6 or 7 million years. Socotra is home to more than 800 species of plants, some 240 of which are endemic to the island, and there are certainly many more plant species that have yet to be discovered.. It has been described as the most alien-looking place on Earth.

Socotra is part of the Republic of Yemen and has only about 40,000 inhabitants and most of them live on main island. There are no hotels or restaurants, there is only one road that was built two years ago by Yemen government. The climate is harsh, hot and dry. Long sandy beaches rise up from the coast and full of caves (some are long more than 10 kilometers) and mountains up to 1525 meters high.

The island was recognized by the UNESCO as a world natural heritage site in July 2008.

Below you can view few pictures from this very beautiful island.