Some of the reasons why Socotra Yemen is special – many of us do not know, but right in this content, you will be exposed to the WHY this great site has so much been regarded as one of the holiest-than-other-places site. Socotra Yemen is an island of the Republic of Yemen in the Indian Ocean. It is the largest of the four islands in the Socotra archipelago.
It is one of the most isolated landforms on Earth of continental origin (i.e. not of volcanic origin). With Oldowan stone tools found in the area around Hadibo in 2008, it was discovered that there was initially an Oldowan lithic culture in Socotra. The site played an important role in the ancient international trade and appears as The Island of the Dioscuri in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, a first-century CE Greek navigation aid.
The Mystery of Socotra Yemen
Four islands make up Socotra. The nation is found off the easternmost part of the Horn of Africa. It’s about 155 miles northeast of Somalia. It’s part of Yemen and is about 210 miles southeast of that country’s mainland. One visit to Socotra would show you that it’s unlike any other place on Earth.
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Beautiful Climate
Beautiful, sandy beaches and palm trees might come to mind. However, the landscape of Socotra usually brings one word to mind: bizarre. There are sandy beaches. But Socotra’s 1,400 square miles is also full of large mountains, deep valleys, and limestone caves. The country is also home to desert plains with large sand dunes. Overall, its hot, dry climate makes for a harsh environment. The islands are full of native plants and animals unlike any others on the planet.
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Dragon’s Blood Tree
Over one-third of Socotra’s 825 plant species can’t be found anywhere else. One of these is the rare dragon’s blood tree, which looks a bit like an umbrella. The island also hosts the giant succulent tree. Species of cucumber trees and pomegranates also grow there that are not found elsewhere.
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World Heritage Site
Most of the reptiles and land snails that live there are also special to the islands. Socotra is also home to many species of birds and marine life. However, you won’t find any native amphibians. There’s also only one native mammal: the bat. This diversity of life, along with Socotra’s natural beauty, led UNESCO to make Socotra a World Heritage Site in 2008.
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Culture and Language
About 40,000 members of the Bedouin culture call the islands home. Many of them make a living herding goats, fishing, and pearl diving. They also raise some crops, such as dates. Much of Socotra’s history is a mystery. The official language of the islands is Arabic because it’s a part of Yemen. However, most people there speak an unwritten Socotri language. It dates back to pre-Islamic times.
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Garden of Eden
Archeologists have also found the ruins of a city on Socotra. They believe it dates back to the 2nd century C.E. Some local legends hold that Socotra is the location of the Garden of Eden described in religious texts.
The Tsunami Damage
Since Yemeni unification in 1990, Socotra has been a part of the Republic of Yemen, affiliated first to Aden Governorate. Then in 2004, it was moved to be a part of the Hadhramaut Governorate. Later in 2013, it became a governorate of its own.
Socotra was ravaged by the 26 December 2004 tsunami causing a child’s death and the wreckage of 40 fishing boats although the island is 4,600 km (2,858 mi) away from tsunami epicentre off the west coast of Aceh, Indonesia. In 2015, the cyclones Chapala and Megh struck the island, causing severe damage to its infrastructure.
