Walk on the most amazing Island

• on the most amazing Island Walk

Map is not always looked like this, which we used to see her right now. For example, 500 million. Years in the southern hemisphere there was a continent, combines modern Africa, South America, Australia Peninsula Indian subcontinent and Antarctica.

It was called Gondwana. Subsequently, the supercontinent broke up into several parts, one of which was the archipelago of Socotra. Once removed from the other continents, piece of land has become a sort of Noah's Ark for the ancient flora and fauna. Due to the long-term isolation from the outside world of the ancient nature of the samples survived all sorts of disasters, and in the archipelago formed its own, completely unlike any that the flora, which is not found anywhere else in the world.

The archipelago of Socotra in the Indian Ocean, 350 km. to the south of the Arabian Peninsula. It consists of 4 islands, three of which - Socotra, Abd al Kuri and Samha - inhabited, and two rocks. The archipelago is part of the Republic of Yemen.

The largest of all the islands is Socotra. An area of ​​3625 sq. km. The island extends for 134 km. in length and 43 km. wide.

For the main island is characterized by three types of relief: narrow coastal plains, a limestone plateau permeated with karstic caves, and mountains Haggier, the maximum height is 1525 meters.

The flora and fauna of Socotra has a high degree of endemism, ie many of the existing species are found nowhere else in the world. Of the 825 species of plants growing on the island, 37% accounted for by endemic.

The symbol is a tree of Socotra Dracaena cinnabar red. Crohn tree whose height can reach up to 10 meters, is shaped like a mushroom. If an incision in the bark of the tree oozes red sap which hardens quickly. Local it is widely used as a cosmetic and a drug.

Another hallmark of the island is the "bottle tree or Adenium obesum." Also in Socotra common dendrosicyos, incense trees from the family burseraceae and several species of aloe.

The majority of the inhabitants of the island are also endemic. Root fauna of the island consists of bats endemic shrews, small reptiles, including a chameleon Chamaele monachus, reptiles, arachnids and insects. 27 species of terrestrial reptiles are found only in the archipelago.

Socotra is home to rare species of birds. In total there are 192 kinds of lives, taking into account those that arrive just for the winter. Many of the birds are on the verge of extinction. Some species, such as long-tailed starling sokotransky, sokotranskaya Sunbird, sokotransky zolotokryly sparrow and finch are endemic.

Socotra unique area of ​​land preserved on its territory the nature of ancient times. However, as a result of economic activities of its relief gradually changes. The vegetation of the island suffers from grazing: in the dry season, he eats the leaves of many trees. In addition, the flora changes under the influence of biological contamination in the form of invasive species. In 2008, UNESCO made the archipelago a World Heritage Site.

In the spring and summer months the island is on the path of tropical cyclones at this time to the shores of Socotra is not always possible to swim. The best time to visit the island is between the beginning of October to the end of March.