Socotra (Arabic سقطرة Suqutrah) is the biggest and the main island in an archipelago that also includes the 'Three Brothers', smaller islands called Abd Al Kuri, Samha and Darsa. A part of Yemen, the place has a population of a few hundreds of people and, until about ten years ago, access to it was only possible between October and May, due to strong winds in the region. However, what makes this small group of lost, little islands in the Indic ocean so attractive is its fascinating flora.
In its 3.625 km², flower about 800 kinds of plants, about a third of which are endemic, that is, in no other place on Earth can you find them. Trees like the
cracena cinnibaris, the
adenium obesum and the
dendrosicyos socotranum have an appearance as peculiar as their scientific names. Photos of these incredible species speak for themselves. Unfortunately, Socotra's flora is among the ten most endangered in the world, because of its unique features. The climate in the region, as well as other factors, have created beings that are the envy of even the most inventive science fiction. It's a shame our planet is so mistreated by its human inhabitants.