Socotra Island: Know about this isolated place with an alien-world setting

New Delhi: An isolated place, Socotra Island is bound to give you the vibe of an alien world if you ever go there. Infact, it has a biodiversity which is not found anywhere else in the world, much like the mysterious island in the acclaimed film ‘Life of Pi’. In this article, we will learn more about this island.

Where is the Socotra Island?

The island is a part of the Socotra Archipelago which is located in the northwest Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Aden. The length of the archipelago is 250 km and it has four islands and a couple of rocky islets. Interstingly, Socotra is one of the Earth’s oldest isolated landforms of continental origin. It means that Socotra was not formed due to volcanic eruption but it is a fragment of the ancient southern supercontinent of Gondwana.

Socotra Island has three main zones, the coastal plains, a limestone plateau and the Hagghier mountains. The climate in the place is like a desert climate and the average temperature generally stays above 25 degrees. The island receives light rainfall and a monsoon exists from June to September during which the place experiences severe strong winds and high seas.

Socotra, since ancient times, is famous for its healing and aromatic resins, endemic plant gums, and the world’s best aloe, amber, musk and pearls. Also, it has played a crucial role in the shipping industry of the Arabian Sea. Since 2400 B.C. Socotra had been providing a great deal of not only frankincense, myrrh and aloe but also Dragon‘s Blood resin. As per the legends, gladiators used to rub that blood before combat so that their wounds could heal faster.

What makes the Socotra Island unique?

Socotra Island is of immense importance due to its rich flora and fauna. According to UNESCO, 37 per cent of its 825 plant species, 90 per cent of the total reptile species in the island and 95 per cent of the land snail species cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Also, the island is home to 192 species of bird, our which 44 species breed on the islands while 85 species are migrant.

The Socotra Island is home to several endangered birds as well. Its marine life is also unique, with 730 species of coastal fish, 300 species of crab, lobster and shrimp, and 253 species of reef-building corals. Due to its biodiversity importance, Socotra was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2008 and is also known as the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean”. The island has great importance to the biodiversity hotspot of the Horn of Africa and is one of the most biodiversity-rich and distinct islands in the world.