Socotra is a special island in the Indian Ocean, far away from most other lands. It has a unique look that seems like it’s from a science fiction movie. The island is home to more than 1,000 kinds of animals and 825 rare plants that aren’t found anywhere else on Earth. Many of these plants have been around for millions of years.
Socotra is one of four islands in the Indian Ocean, near Somalia and Yemen. It used to be part of a bigger land, but it broke away six million years ago, making the island quite isolated. In Sanskrit, the island is called the “Blissful Island.” About 50,000 people live there. They speak a language called Socotri, which is unique to the island. Most people in Socotra come from southern Arabia, but some are from Somalia and India.
People have known about Socotra for a very long time. It was mentioned in a Greek guide for sailors from the first century AD. Recently, writings from more than 2,000 years ago were found on the island. These writings show that sailors from different places visited Socotra between the first century BC and the sixth century AD.
The island is very old and hasn’t changed much over time. It looks almost the same as it did millions of years ago. This long time has allowed the plants and animals on Socotra to evolve and change in their own special ways. This makes Socotra an important place to study and learn about how life evolves.
Socotra has a hot and dry climate, creating a unique environment for plants and animals. The island is home to many special plants and animals. 37% of the island’s plants, 90% of reptiles, and 95% of land snails are only found on Socotra. One important plant on the island is the aloe plant, which is used for medicine and cosmetics.
