The island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean has a unique plant life that makes you feel like you’re walking on another planet.

ShareDragon’s Blood Tree, Socotra Island. Photo: Rod Waddington (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The island of Socotra is part of an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, constituting around 95% of its landmass. Situated 380 kilometres (240 miles) south of the Arabian Peninsula, it is politically a part of Yemen (part of the Arabian Peninsula and thus Western Asia), but geographically it is part of Africa.

Socotra is home to a high number of unique species, with around a third of its plant life being endemic and found nowhere else on the planet. Birds such as the Socotra starling, Socotra sunbird, and Socotra grosbeak are also only found on Socotra. Bats are the island’s only native mammal.

The island is also held by some to be the location of the Garden of Eden, due to its isolation and biological diversity, as well as its location on the edge of Yemen’s Gulf of Aden, which many connect with the ancient Sumerian tales of a paradise called Dilmun.

Socotra has been described as “the most alien-looking place on Earth,” and with a reason too. Take a look at the the Socotra desert rose or bottle tree (Adenium socotranum), for example.

The bottle tree looks like elephants’ legs with pink flowers on top

ShareThe Socotra Desert Rose or Bottle Tree can grow into amazing forms. Source

ShareSocotra desert rose blooming. Photo: valerian.guillotAnother amazing endemic species is the dragon’s blood tree that looks like a flying saucer perched on a trunk

ShareFar away. Far Away, Socotra Island, Yemen. Photo: Rod Waddington (CC BY-SA 2.0)It is named after the blood-like color of the red sap that the tree produces

ShareFlying saucers everywhere. Photo: Rod Waddington (CC BY-SA 2.0)The Socotra golden winged grosbeak is only found on Socotra Island

ShareSourceThis Frankincense tree decided to grow at an impossible location

SharePhoto: valerian.guillot (CC BY 2.0)Just like this bottle tree…

SharePhoto: Rod Waddington (CC BY-SA 2.0)This dragon blood tree has two faces

SharePhoto: valerian.guillot (CC BY 2.0)Dragon blood trees look even more amazing when in blossom

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