Lost Island Of Socotra

Kawan-kawan...

Korang penah dengar atau tahu mengenai sebuah Pulau yg berdekatan dengan Yamen...??

Ok..ini sedikit info mengenai Pulau ini..

"SESUNGGUHNYA, CIPTAAN ALLAH ITU TIADA PENGHUJUNGNYA".

Socotra Island 

This is an interesting island just off the horn of Africa and the coast of Yemen . The Somali Pirates ply these waters.

It is like being on a different planet. These pictures and information are excellent viewing and reading.
SOCOTRA ISLAND : You have to see it to believe it. This island simply blows away any notion about what
is considered "normal" for a landscape on Earth.

Imagine waking up one day on Socotra Island and taking a good look around you. After a yelp of disbelief,you'd be inclined to think you were transported to another planet - or traveled to another era of Earth's
evolution. The second would be closer to the truth for this island, which is part of a group of 4 islands,

has been geographically isolated from mainland Africa for the last 6 or 7 million years. Like the Galapagos
Islands, this island is teeming with 700 extremely rare species of flora and fauna, a full 1/3 of which are
endemic; that is, found nowhere else on Earth.

 The climate is harsh, hot, and dry, and yet - the most amazing plant life thrives there. Situated in theIndian Ocean 250 km (155 miles) east of Somalia and 340 km (212 miles) southeast of Yemen, the
wide sandy beaches rise to limestone plateaus full of caves (some 7 kilometers (4.4 miles in length)
and mountains up to 1525 meters high (5007 feet).

The name “ Socotra ” is derived from a Sanscrit name meaning "The Island of Bliss." Is it the beaches?
The isolation and quiet? Or the strange and crazy botanical allure? Alien-looking plants. H. P. Lovecraft's
secret inspiration? Was the famous Chtulhu myths creator aware of these forbidding mountains with their
hauntingly weird flora? (Think of plant mutations from his "The Color out of Space") We are almost tempted
to call Socotra the other "Mountains of Madness" - the trees and plants of this island were preserved thru their
long geological isolation with some varieties being 20 million years old. We begin with the dracena cinnibaris or
Dragon's Blood Tree, the source of valuable resin for varnishes, dyes, and "cure-all" medicine; also (predictably)
used in medieval ritual magic and alchemy.

The branches spread out into the sky and from below appear to hover over the landscape like so many flying saucers. And from above they have a distinct mushroom look.

There is also the Desert Rose (Adenium Obesium) which looks like nothing so much as a blooming elephant leg.

Dorstenia Gigas ..... apparently does not require any soil and sinks roots straight into the bare rock.

  
Getting around can be a challenge as there are almost no roads. Despite the fact that this island has around 40,000 inhabitants, the Yemeni government put in the first roads just 2 years ago - after
negotiations with UNESCO, which has declared this island a World Natural Heritage Site. I would prefer
a camel ride to what is bound to be a bumpy and slow 4x4 ride. It is a quiet and peaceful enclave in an
otherwise troubled world. If you decide to visit there, you can forget about beachfront hotels and
restaurants. This island is geared towards Eco-tourism and sustaining the local economy and way of life.

This island is a birder's paradise as well with 140 different species of birds ....10 of which are not found anywhere else in the world. A unique Socotra Warbler, Sunbird, Starling, Bunting, Sparrow and Cisticola are among the ones
found here. There are also Socotra Cormorants.

Want to see some fairy-tale (and possibly haunted) shipwrecks? There are diving tours available. Hopefullysome IMAX crew would film it in all its glory one day.

Socotra is one of those "lost world" islands (separated from the world six million years ago) where
intrepid travelers - particularly those seeking exotic nature and wildlife in a remote tropical setting -
can go days on end without rubbing shoulders with that less-than-endangered species, tourists.
Known for decades as the Galapagos-of-the-Indian-Ocean, it's the world's tenth richest island for
endemic plant species. And the biggest island in the Middle East is 125 kilometers (78 miles) in length
and 45 kilometers (28 miles) across. Meanwhile the landscape is one of contrasts. For example, it
has isolated nature preserves with dazzling wildlife (including 900 species of plants and the famous
Dragon's Blood Tree (Dracaena Cinnabara) and the some of rarest birds that exist nowhere else in
the world), and picturesque unspoiled sandy beaches.

P/s - Sori klau tak faham bahasa English, nikmati je gambar tu korang dah faham.. tak sangka ye ada tempat yg unik dan paling indah yg kita tak pernah tahu dan terokai selama ini.. ciptaan dan keindahan yg Allah berikan tidak terkata dengan kata2...wallahuakalm...:) Ncek Yus...