Where Is the Socotra Archipelago?

Socotra is one of the most biodiverse and alien-looking places on Earth, often called the "Galapagos of the Indian Ocean." The archipelago — four islands and two rocky islets — separated from the African mainland about 6 million years ago, allowing its flora and fauna to evolve in isolation. About 37% of its 825 plant species, 90% of its reptiles, and 95% of its land snails are found nowhere else on Earth. The most iconic species is the dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari), with its distinctive umbrella-shaped canopy and red resin used since antiquity. The desert rose (Adenium obesum socotranum), with its bulbous trunk, gives the landscape a surreal, prehistoric appearance. Despite its remoteness (population about 60,000, no traffic lights), Socotra faces threats from climate change, invasive species, and political instability in Yemen. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.