Socotra Island

The most alien-looking place on Earth.

Category Martian Landscapes, Anomalous Islands, Geological Oddities, Extraordinary Flora, Fascinating Fauna

Martian Landscapes http://atlasobscura.com/category/natural-wonders/martian-landscapes Anomalous Islands http://atlasobscura.com/category/natural-wonders/anomalous-islands Geological Oddities http://atlasobscura.com/category/natural-wonders/geological-oddities Extraordinary Flora http://atlasobscura.com/category/natural-wonders/extraordinary-flora Fascinating Fauna http://atlasobscura.com/category/natural-wonders/fascinating-fauna

The island of Socotra is part of an archipelago in the Indian Ocean. It is so isolated that a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet. Notable are the dragon's blood trees that look like flying saucers perched on trunks. Adenium socotranum are trees that look like elephants' legs with pink flowers on top. Birds such as the Socotra starling, Socotra sunbird, and Socotra grosbeak are found nowhere else on Earth. Bats are the island's only native mammal.

There are almost no roads on the island, which is also home to a collection of caves and a number of shipwrecks.

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  • Address 12°29?20.97?N 53°54?25.73?E, Indian Ocean, Socotra, Yemen
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Comments

  • & Anonymous July 6, 2011
    anon nov 27 2009 if you we comfortable being an american you likely wouldn't be so condescending to those you conclude are american based on honest questions they ask in an effort to learn something...you might be more comfortable at Socotra... just another creature that apppears alien wherever it goes even in its native habitat
  • leiris& leiris December 29, 2010
    Remains of an ancient city on Socotra called "Khajlah" was just discovered. Supposedly the city dates back to the second century AD... http://www.archaeologydaily.com/news/201012245823/Ancient-city-unearthed-in-Socotra-Island.html
  • & Anonymous August 11, 2010
    very amazing place..
  • & Anonymous December 31, 2009
    gulf of eden, you mean aden?
  • & Anonymous November 27, 2009
    lol anon from oct 19, only an american would ask something like that (i'm american too but wouldn't say that).
  • & Anonymous October 14, 2009
    can anyone give a close pronounciation of the name Socotra in american english?
  • & Anonymous July 5, 2009
    Yes, the island of Socotra is off the horn of Africa on the east coast on the southern side of the Gulf of Eden. It is part of Yemen.
  • & Anonymous June 23, 2009
    The map points to somewhere in the Gulf of Guinea, in the Atlantic Ocean, instead of the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean. I think the coordinates are set al 0º 0º, in fact.
  • & Anonymous June 22, 2009
    The Dorstenia gigas tree looks like its from outer space.