Socotra is like Jurassic Park.
Socotra is a Yemeni-owned island located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia. It is one of the world's most isolated islands of continental (non-volcanic) origin; it separated from Africa about 6 million years ago.
The long isolation of Socotra and intense heat and drought, hurricane seasonal monsoons from May to September, noticeable climate softening in the winter months, as well as special climatic conditions in mountainous regions have formed a unique flora and fauna on the island. For this reason, Socotra is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The main threat to Socotra's nature is represented by alien species, climate change, and anthropogenic impact (it is known that goats eat young shoots of bottle trees and the dragon tree, which harms the endemics of Socotra).
The symbol of Socotra is Dracaena cinnabari (Dragon tree), which looks like a huge mushroom or umbrella. From the bark of this tree, when cut, red sap begins to flow, which quickly solidifies. Since ancient times, local residents have used the resulting crimson gum for medical, veterinary, and cosmetic purposes. Locals say that the juice of Dracaena cinnabari can stop bleeding during menstruation in women.
To watch more videos about this incredible place, you may visit my Instagram. Most of all, I liked the kilometer-long dunes on the shores of the azure Indian Ocean, puffer fish, and bottle trees blooming like sakura.
More info: Instagram | ipai.ru | Facebook | 500px.com
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I seriously thought that this was a computer rendered picture it was so strange in a good way.
My journey as a photographer began at the age of 14 when I started learning photo editing software and making collages on my own. At 16 I got my first camera and I couldn't stop shooting. I've been shooting for 18 years.
The trance I go into when I create, besides other stuff, is probably the main thing that makes me interested in photography.
A friend showed me the island and at the same time, we were invited there by a local travel company. You can only get there with a package tour, since tickets for charters from Abu Dhabi can only be bought from Socotra Island, and the plane flies only once a week. And at the airport on this day, there was a real stir from the inhabitants of the island - they come to look at the tourists standing in line for registration.
No, there were no difficulties. There was one episode with a trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, it was April 2021, and strange coronavirus restrictions caught up with us. We traveled from one emirate to another in our GPS bracelets. Like prisoners so that they don't run out of the taxi into the street, apparently. But they were removed at the airport, and we flew to Socotra. On Socotra, they also did tests using blood sampling.
The most challenging part of shooting and the only difficulty there was the lack of electricity. The island is wild, and you can only live in a tent, so we tried to keep mobile and cameras charged. Well, it's hot, but it's hot in a lot of places in the world. And, I also recommend that you always close the tent, on the island, in addition to scorpions, there are harmful goats that eat just everything. Including endemic trees - Dragon trees and Bottle trees.
What fascinated me the most about the island were small bottle trees and huge white kilometer dunes. From May to October, hurricane-force winds blow on Socotra, blowing these mountains of sand from the deserts of Africa. Unique place. And of course the Dragon's trees with red blood instead of juice.
Gorgeous! It reminds me of blooming cherry blossoms in spring.
I always have many projects in parallel, and they are again about the beauty and uniqueness of our world. About the fact that the world is more magnificent than everyone can photograph it!
The place has a darn good gardener. First the clouds, now the sand raked so perfectly.
And this, fellow bored pandas, is what light pollution steals from us in other places
Incredible sceneries! I visited this island in 2014 and loved it. Here are some of my photos: https://lukaesenko.com/socotra-island-photos-travel-guide/
Note: this post originally had 43 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
This is what I imagined alien worlds to look like.similar, yet beautifuly different.
You have a great eye for composition. Thanks for sharing such beautiful photographs.
Beautiful photos of a beautiful place, but the article is a bit repetitive and could have less of the same.
If the main threats are from alien species and human impact, why the f**k go visit and post pictures?? If a place is worth protecting, then please protect it - don't publicize it!
Ok that's it, I'm registering for a photoshop course. Of course these pictures are amazing already but the HD effect is awesome
You have a true gift of finding beauty and I hope you continue to share. Since I can't and shouldn't go there, I appreciate you bringing it to us.
Gorgeous photograph— thank you for sharing the beauty of this amazing place.
This is what I imagined alien worlds to look like.similar, yet beautifuly different.
You have a great eye for composition. Thanks for sharing such beautiful photographs.
Beautiful photos of a beautiful place, but the article is a bit repetitive and could have less of the same.
If the main threats are from alien species and human impact, why the f**k go visit and post pictures?? If a place is worth protecting, then please protect it - don't publicize it!
Ok that's it, I'm registering for a photoshop course. Of course these pictures are amazing already but the HD effect is awesome
You have a true gift of finding beauty and I hope you continue to share. Since I can't and shouldn't go there, I appreciate you bringing it to us.
Gorgeous photograph— thank you for sharing the beauty of this amazing place.
