Socotra

Socotra (also Socotra; Arab سقطرى Suqutra, Suqutra DMG ) is an island in the northwestern Indian Ocean. It belongs geographically to the same group of islands of Socotra and Hadhramaut Governorate politically to the Republic of Yemen.

Geography

The island lies at the east exit of the Gulf of Aden from the Horn 233 km from Africa and 352 km south of the Arabian peninsula. Socotra is about 133 km long, up to 42 km wide and has an area of ​​3579 km ². Around 42,400 people live on the island, of which 8545 in the capital Hadibu (also Tamrida or Hudaybu called ) on the north coast.

Nature and Landscape

Live in the narrow coastal areas of the island of Socotra, to the shepherds, fishermen and farmers, the cultivation of incense and aloe as well as livestock (sheep and goats) is operated. The highest elevation on Socotra, which mainly consists of a barren plateau, measuring 1519 m. However, the island has a often quite thickly overgrown, original and endemic to large proportions of flora and fauna in the deeper regions and on mountain slopes. Among the endemic species belongs Dendrosicyos socotranus, one of the few tree-like cucurbits and Sokotragimpel ( Rhynchostruthus socotranus ); therefore it was explained along with the other islands of the archipelago in 2003 a Biosphere Reserve. Some parts of the coastline are surrounded by dunes, which are among the largest coastal dunes in the world. Socotra is home to the dragon tree Dracaena cinnabari, a relic of the Cretaceous period, the tree resin is used for the production of natural medicines and incense. Since 2008, the island is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage " Socotra Archipelago " by UNESCO.

• Landscape

On the West Coast

On the south coast

The interior of the island