Socotra: The Most Alien-Looking Place on Earth
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(images credit: Jan Vandorpe , socotra )
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 history. 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, i.e. found nowhere else on Earth . |
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The climate is harsh, hot and dry, and yet - the most amazing plant life thrives there. Situated in the Indian Ocean 250 km from Somalia and 340 km from Yemen, the wide sandy beaches rise to limestone plateaus full of caves (some 7 kilometers in length) and mountains up to 1525 meters high.
(image credit: Marco Pavan )
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?
What a fascinating article and island....I love the tree's plants and bird life.
The buildings are simply amazing.
Great article, I learned something new today...GREAT.
Very cool. Thank you.
You're welcome!
(Or, as people on NT might say: "Your welcome!")
That's because Americans spell and speak "American", whereas some of us spell and speak English.
Here's a closeup of one of the trees.
I found some information about it:
Dragon's Blood Tree (Dracaena cinnabari)
Dracaena cinnabari , the Socotra dragon tree or dragon blood tree , is a dragon tree native to the Socotra archipelago, part of Yemen , located in the Arabian Sea . It is so called due to the red sap that the trees Socotra archipelago, part of Yemen , located in the Arabian Sea . It is so called due to the red sap that the trees produce. [2]
LINK
Here's a video:
Buzz had seeded some pictures of unusual trees from around the world-- very unique trees!
Lasting Beauty Of Ancient Trees: A Woman’s 14-Year Quest To Photograph World’s Most Majestic Trees
(LINK )