A Lost World - The Island of Socotra
This is an interesting island just off the horn of Africa and
the coast of Yemen . The Somali Pirates ply these waters.
It is like being on a different planet. These pictures and
information are excellent viewing and reading.
SOCOTRA ISLAND : You have to see it to believe it. This
island simply blows away any notion about what is considered "normal" for a landscape on Earth.
Imagine waking up one day on Socotra Island and taking a
good look around you. After a yelp of disbelief, you'd be
inclined to think you were transported to another planet -
or traveled to another era of Earth's evolution. The second
would be closer to the truth for this island, which is part of
a group of 4 islands, has been geographically isolated from
mainland Africa for the last 6 or 7 million years. Like the
Galapagos Islands , this island is teeming with 700 extremely
rare species of flora and fauna, a full 1/3 of which are
endemic; that is, found nowhere else on Earth.
The climate is harsh, hot, and dry, and yet - the most
amazing plant life thrives there. Situated in the Indian
Ocean 250 km (155 miles) east of Somalia and 340 km
(212 miles) southeast of Yemen , the wide sandy beaches
rise to limestone plateaus full of caves (some 7 kilometers
(4.4 miles in length) and mountains up to 1525 meters
high (5007 feet).
The name Socotra is derived from a Sanscrit name meaning
"The Island of Bliss." Is it the beaches? The isolation and
quiet? Or the strange and crazy botanical allure? Alien-
looking plants. H. P. Lovecraft's secret inspiration? Was the
famous Chtulhu myths creator aware of these forbidding
mountains with their hauntingly weird flora? (Think of plant
mutations from his "The Color out of Space") We are almost
tempted to call Socotra the other "Mountains of Madness" -
the trees and plants of this island were preserved thru their
long geological isolation with some varieties being 20 million
years old. We begin with the dracena cinnibaris or Dragon's
Blood Tree, the source of valuable resin for varnishes, dyes,
and "cure-all" medicine; also (predictably) used in medieval
ritual magic and alchemy.
The branches spread out into the sky and from below appear
to hover over the landscape like so many flying saucers.
And from above they have a distinct mushroom look.
There is also the Desert Rose (Adenium Obesium) which looks
like nothing so much as a blooming elephant leg.
Dorstenia Gigas ... apparently does not require any soil and
sinks roots straight into the bare rock.
It also has a distinct personality and likes to smile for the
camera.
Somewhat similar to the weird Dorstenia Gigas, is this
"Bucha" vegetable, found as far north as Croatia . I hope
it's not pregnant with anything malignant inside this sack.
John Wyndham (with his "The Day of the Triffids") would've
loved it.
Also found in Socotra 's landscape is the ever-strange and
extremely rare Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos Socotranum) -
and, yes, it is related to what's sitting in a pickle jar in your
fridge.
Getting around can be a challenge as there are almost no
roads. Despite the fact that this island has around 40,000
inhabitants, the Yemeni government put in the first roads
just 2 years ago - after negotiations with UNESCO, which has
declared this island a World Natural Heritage Site. I would
prefer a camel ride to what is bound to be a bumpy and slow
4x4 ride. It is a quiet and peaceful enclave in an otherwise
troubled world. If you decide to visit there, you can forget
about beachfront hotels and restaurants. This island is
geared towards Eco-tourism and sustaining the local
economy and way of life.
This island is a birder's paradise as well, with 140 different
species of birds ...10 of which are not found anywhere else
in the world. A unique Socotra Warbler, Sunbird, Starling,
Bunting, Sparrow and Cisticola are among the ones found
here. There are also Socotra Cormorants.
Want to see some fairy-tale (and possibly haunted)
shipwrecks? There are diving tours available. Hopefully, some
IMAX crew would film it in all its glory one day.
To give you a glimpse of Socotra 's and
Yemen 's, in general, totally unique
architecture, check out this place located on
the mainland .... Al Hajarah, Yemen - walled
city in the mist.
Socotra is one of those "lost world" islands (separated
from the world six million years ago) where intrepid travelers
- particularly those seeking exotic nature and wildlife in a
remote tropical setting - can go days on end without rubbing shoulders with that less-than-endangered species, tourists.
Known for decades as the Galapagos-of-the-Indian-Ocean,
it's the world's tenth richest island for endemic plant species.
And the biggest island in the Middle East is 125 kilometers
(78 miles)in length and 45 kilometers (28 miles) across.
Meanwhile the landscape is one of contrasts. For example,
it has isolated nature preserves with dazzling wildlife
(including 900 species of plants and the famous Dragon's
Blood Tree (Dracaena Cinnabara) and the some of rarest
birds that exist nowhere else in the world), and picturesque unspoiled sandy beaches.
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