Text / Compiled and reported by the Editorial Department of MOOK Scenic Spots Tourism Life Network
Situated in the Indian Ocean, Socotra has been cut off from the African mainland for 18 million years. Due to long-term geographic isolation, as well as extreme weather and a dry environment, it has nurtured 825 extremely rare species. Some 37% of its plants, 90% of its reptiles, and 95% of its snail species are found nowhere else on Earth, creating an otherworldly environment. In 2011, it was selected by a renowned international travel magazine as the world’s best hidden paradise island.
The island’s bizarre landscapes are considered among the most extraterrestrial-like places on Earth. (Image source / conciergetravel.co.za)
A lush green canyon on the island. (Image source / reversehomesickness)
Socotra Island lies 350 kilometers off the Arabian Peninsula, at the junction of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It is an archipelago composed of four main islands and two rocky islets, and is part of Yemeni territory. Sometimes called the “Island of Bliss,” Socotra lives up to its name — here, people live far from the hustle and bustle of the modern world. With no internet and, in many areas, no electricity, life remains primitive and unspoiled.
Desert rose growing on a rock. (Image source / reversehomesickness)
The crystal-clear seawater along the island's coast is incredibly beautiful. (Image source / reversehomesickness)
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