Socotra Island - The Lost World ( Yemen )... - Secret World

Socotra, Yemen

by Lara Kipling

Socotra Island is home to around 800 rare species of flora and fauna A third of the species found on the Indian Ocean island are endemic and cannot be seen anywhere else on Earth The trees and plants on the island have evolved to suit its hostile climate and some varieties of plant are a staggering 20 million years. One of the most bizarre forms of life is the dragon blood tree, which resembles an umbrella.Nestled in the Indian Ocean some 250km away from Somalia and 340km from Yemen, the island's harsh environment includes wide sandy beaches, limestone caves and towering mountains, but is for the most part very hot and dry leading to the distinctive appearance of its plants.