The Socotra archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean, has been referred to as the most alien place on Earth because of its bizarre, long-lost, and otherworldly features. The Socotra archipelago has been separated from the African mainland for 18 million years and has evolved into an evolutionary laboratory due to its isolation. UNESCO reports that approximately 37 per cent of its 825 flowering plants are endemic, meaning they exist only on Socotra and nowhere else in the world.
The Dragon's Blood Tree is by far the most famous of the plants found on Socotra. This plant has an umbrella-shaped canopy that collects water from mists forming on the mountain tops; thus, it is an evolutionary wonder. In addition to the unique biology of the Socotra archipelago, the IUCN World Heritage Outlook states that Socotra is considered the ‘Galapagos of the Indian Ocean' and goes against the normal standards of nature. Its surreal landscape, characterized by bulbous bottle trees and ancient limestone plateaus, offers a prehistoric glimpse into a world untouched by modern continental evolution.
