Socotra Island is considered the largest of the Yemeni islands and is administratively affiliated with Hadhramaut Governorate in accordance with Republican Decree Law No. (23) of 1999 AD. It was officially declared as a nature reserve in 2000 AD. The former Socotra Island was administratively part of Aden Governorate.

  Socotra Island Archipelago:

Since the beginning of the first millennium BC, Socotra Island was known as one of the important centers for the production of sacred goods. Therefore, it gained its fame and importance as a source of production of those goods that were used in the devotional rituals of the religions of the ancient world, where it was believed that the land that produced sacred goods at that time was a land blessed by the gods. In ancient history, the island was associated with the Kingdom of Hadhramaut, but in the modern era, it was associated with the Sultan of Al-Mahra until the outbreak of the Yemeni revolution. Due to the importance of the role that the island played in the production of sacred goods and precious things of various spices and pearls, it was present in the books of ancient travelers and geographers, and news of it continued to circulate throughout various historical eras.

During the stage of geographical exploration, the island was coveted by the invaders, as it was occupied by the Portuguese at the beginning of the sixteenth century in the year (1507 AD), and then occupied by the British, as the island formed a rear base for their occupation of the city of Aden in 1839 AD.

Socotra Island was subjected to long years of isolation and neglect, but after achieving the blessed Yemeni unity, it regained its historical glory and civilizational continuity due to the importance it represents to Yemen, both in terms of its strategic location at the end of the Gulf of Aden.

And its supervision of the shipping route towards the Horn of Africa and the western Indian Ocean, or because of the great natural resources it stores, in addition to being considered one of the most important areas of biodiversity.

The island of Socotra was subjected to long years of isolation and neglect, but after achieving the blessed Yemeni unity, it regained its historical glory and cultural continuity due to the importance it represents to Yemen, whether in terms of its strategic location at the end of the Gulf of Aden and its supervision of the shipping route towards the Horn of Africa and the western Indian Ocean, or because of the great natural resources it hoards. In addition to being considered one of the most important areas of biodiversity.

Location: Socotra Island is located in the southern side of the Republic of Yemen, opposite the city of Mukalla, east of the Gulf of Aden, between latitudes (12.18° - 12.24°) north of the equator and longitudes (53.19° - 54.33°) east of Jar Yantash, and it is 380 km away from Ras Fartak. Al-Mahra Governorate, as the closest point on the Yemeni coast, is estimated at (300 miles), and it is about (553 miles) away from Aden Governorate. Thus, the location indicates its proximity to the equator, which makes its climate characterized by tropics in general. This location has provided the peculiarity of the climatic characteristics of the island. Which makes it enjoy a diversity of vegetation.

Space:

The area of the island is 3650 km2, and the shape of the island is both rectangular and segmented, and there are some islands belonging to the mother island of Socotra.

Landforms:

The geological formation of the island does not differ from the base in the Arabian Peninsula, as it consists of ancient and metamorphic igneous rocks, abundant in granite rocks, and in the middle of the island there are mountains, the highest height at the tip of the eastern Hajhar Mountains is 1,500 meters, and the height of the central areas is 500 metres. The island’s topography is also distributed between mountains, plains, and plateaus. And valleys and bays, as follows:

1-   The Central Plateau:

This plateau occupies most of the island’s area and overlooks the coastal plains in a gradual manner in decline. The Valley (De Ezro) divides it into two main parts: the eastern plateau and the western plateau.

2- The northern coastal plains:

(Hadibo Plain) It is distributed in different areas such as: - Ras Madhan plains - and the plains of Wadi Darbaa and Wadi Toan.

-3 Southern coastal plains:

(Nojd Plain) It is distributed as follows: Plains of Wadi Defarhu - Plain of Wadi Deezerhu.

- The southern coastal plain of the Qatari Mountains, which is called the Nojd Plain and Qaara Plain. These plains extend from the south of Ras Mumi in the east of the island to Ras Shuab in the west. These plains are covered with rich soil suitable for agriculture, while soft sand dunes spread near the coast.

Mountains:

The mountains are distributed in different parts of the surface of the central plateau, the most important of which is the Hajhar mountain range, the highest peak of which reaches a height of (1500 metres). This mountain range extends from the northeast to the southwest for a distance of approximately (24 km), and its height increases in the middle and east and narrows. It decreases in the west, and there are a number of other mountains, the most important of which is the Falaj Mountains to the east, the highest peak of which is (640 metres).

Likewise, the Qalhil Mountains to the southwest have the highest peak (978 metres), the Kadah Mountains in the south, which reach a height of (699 metres), and the Qatari Mountains in the south as well, which reach a height of 560 metres. There is also Mount Taid Ba’ah, which rises (550 metres), and Mount Zuluh, Mount Aifah, and Mount Khairha, which rises (1,394 metres), in addition to Mount Qatin, which rises (800 metres), Mount Fadhan, which rises at a height of (778 metres), and Mount Qairkh, which rises at 660 metres.

Valleys:

There are a large number of valleys on Socotra Island, and they take several paths and directions depending on the surface effects, which are as follows:

A- The valleys that flow north of the island into the sea, located east of the city of Hadibu, are characterized by their small basins and short streams, as they do not exceed a distance of approximately (7 km). They have a large drainage due to the continuous flow of water throughout the year, such as: - Wadi Danjhan - Wadi Insect - Wadi Duniya - Wadi Dara'a - Wadi Touaq.

B- The valleys that flow to the northwest, located north of Mount Fadhan Matlu, such as: - Wadi Doahar - Wadi Amedhan - Wadi Jaalal - Wadi Dimjit - Wadi Farha.

C- The valleys that flow south of the island and are located to the east of Mount Qarya. These are valleys with long streams, wide basins, and greater drainage than the valleys.

Friendly North due to the abundance of summer rains that fall on the southern slopes, especially in the Nojd Plain, which led to the availability of water there, in addition to the fact that this plain is not exposed to strong winds, which created favorable conditions for the emergence of limited agricultural activity.

D- Valleys of the South: Such as: - Wadi Sterio - Wadi Trivers - Wadi Reshi - Wadi Asra - Shibhoun - Wadi Faqa - Wadi Ayra - Wadi Zanqata - Wadi Deezerhu - Wadi Defarhu - Wadi Deshtan - Wadi Mutif.

These valleys end at the edge of the plateau, and flow into the southern coastal plain. As for the valleys whose mouths reach the sea, they are - Wadi Sahub - Wadi Asham, in addition to the subsidiary valleys located between the group of mountains and flowing into the center of the island.

Heads and bays:

A - There are a number of rocky headlands on the island, some of which extend into the sea water, such as the headlands located in the north and east, the most important of which are - Ras Momi - Ras Didim - Ras Madhan - Ras Burkaten - Ras Adho - Ras De Hamri - Ras Hulaf - Ras Qarqama - Ras At - Ras Bishara - Ras Samari - Ras Hamouhar, in addition to the capes located to the west of the island, such as: Ras Badoh - Ras Hamarho - Ras Shuab. As for the capes located in the south of the island, they are Ras Shihn - Ras Mutif - Ras Zahq - Ras Gash - Ras Yanen.

B- There are a small group of bays on the island, and their importance lies in their exploitation as natural ports, especially when parts of the island are exposed to the strong winds that strike the Hadibo Plain and the eastern and western parts, starting from the beginning of June until the end of September. Which :

• Bitdfafa Bay in the east between Ras Mumi and Ras Didim

• Enba Tamarida Bay in the north between Ras Qarqama and Ras Anad

• Bandar Qalansiya Bay in the west, between Ras Hamarho and Ras Badoh

• Sharbar Bay in the west, between Ras Badou and Ras Shuab

• Arsal Bay in the south between Ras Mumi and Ras Shehn.

Climate:

The island has a hot maritime climate, where the maximum temperature ranges between (26°C - 29°C), the minimum temperatures range from (19°C - 23°C), and the average annual temperature ranges from (27°C - 29°C), where the average temperature for January is (24°C) and for July is 30°C. degrees Celsius. The climate of Socotra Island is tropical, with long, hot summers, while the winters are warm, short, and rainy at the same time. The months of June and July are considered to be the highest in temperature and the least hot months are the months of December and January, and the temperature averages are much lower in the mountainous areas.

The relative humidity ranges between 55% in August and 70% in January

The island is exposed to strong southwesterly winds that reach their peak in early June until the end of August, then begin to gradually decline, reaching a normal speed at the beginning of October when they turn into northeasterly winds and their speed decreases to (10 knots). As for the southwesterly winds in the months of June In July and August, its speed will be strong, reaching 40-50 knots, and in some parts of the island it may reach more than 55 knots, and it will be accompanied by severe sea turbulence.

  Amount of rain: The amount of rainfall ranges from (33) to (290) ml during the year.

Population: The population of Socotra Island is about (44,120 people) according to the 2004 census.

Administrative division:

Socotra Island is administratively divided into two directorates:

• Hadibo District, with a population of 34,011 people, 2004 census

• Qalansiyah and Abd al-Kuri District, with a population of 10,109 people, 2004 census.

Hadibo District:

It is considered the administrative center of Socotra Island. It is located in the northern plain of the island. It is overlooked by the Hajjar mountain range from the northern side. It is also surrounded by dense forests of palm trees along the valleys in which water runs throughout the year. Some services are available in the city of Hadibu, and a number of villages follow the Hadibu District, the most important of which are The village of Qadib is located on the road from Morey Airport, which was recently equipped with advanced services and prepared to receive large aircraft of various types.                                                          

Qalansiyah and Abd al-Kuri District:

Its center is the city of Qalansiyah, located on the western coastal strip of Socotra Island, and it is considered the second urban settlement after Hadibu.

The name Qalansiya goes back to the period of the Portuguese occupation of the island in 1507 AD. The city’s houses consist of only one floor, and their color is predominantly white, which gives the city a beautiful character.

The city of Qalansiyah is surrounded by a number of beautiful beaches and village communities whose activities depend on fishing and grazing. This district is also considered a receiving point for fishing vessels coming from Hadhramaut Governorate.

Socotra Archipelago:

Socotra Island is followed by a number of small islands located on its western side, namely (Abdul Kuri - Samha - Darsa - Karaeel - Pharaoh - Sayal). Abdul Kuri Island is considered the largest in area and most densely populated, and is located 200 miles away. Northwest of Socotra Island, and its surface formations resemble Socotra Island. On the southern shore of Abdul Kuri Island, there is a small anchorage called Bandar Saleh, and its highest peak is (1,750 feet). The majority of the population on the island work in fishing and diving, as the island is rich in pearl fisheries, and all the islands The archipelago constitutes the most important areas of biodiversity.

Tourist attractions on Socotra Island:

Socotra Island receives great attention from the government to benefit from its diverse stock, natural characteristics and economic advantages. The tourist attractions on the island form part of this general framework, which is generally determined by considering the island a natural history museum with its rare biological diversity while benefiting from global efforts and interests. By preserving Socotra Island as a natural gem.

The primary interest is limited to development programs to preserve the island as a natural reserve within the framework of the Man and its Biosphere Programme

Socotra is nominated as a nature reserve that receives regional and global attention to serve humanity

The second interest is limited to the project to protect biodiversity on the island and its archipelago. This is why the Prime Minister’s Decision No. (96) was issued in April 1996 in order to avoid causing any deterioration in the island’s natural environment in light of the increasing pace of economic and population growth on the island during the current period. And the future, as it requires, in the medium term, the implementation of projects to protect species and environmentally sensitive sites in a way that ensures the sustainability of development in a balanced manner in light of the difficult equation of preserving natural protected areas. With this equation, the person residing on the island or arriving to it constitutes the most important element, as it gives a special dimension to the importance of integration between the elements. different lives, and thus he can live at a good level of civilization if he masters the balanced approach between his life demands and preserving the nature and environment of the island from destruction, because through the balance equation, many benefits can be achieved for tourism in our country and for the human sciences in preserving aspects of biological diversity as an essential factor for the continuation of a prosperous life. On the island

From this approach, the elements of tourist attraction can be summarized as follows:

First: Vegetation cover:

Socotra Island has a unique plant diversity, with the number of plant species reaching about nine hundred species, three hundred of which are endemic. There are also a group of medicinal plants among them, and there are more than three hundred species of wildlife that make Socotra the only place to live in the world.

The Socotra Archipelago constitutes an independent marine ecosystem, as the importance of its unique environment and the enormous and unique biological diversity of global importance is no less important than the Galapagos Islands. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has described it as (the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean). The island is also one of the four most important islands in the world in terms of plant biodiversity and is considered home to thousands of endemic plants, animals and birds. It is thus considered the most important home of the famous frankincense trees in ancient times, as they are found in the world. There are 25 species of frankincense, including 9 species endemic to Socotra Island.

About 850 species of plants have been recorded on the island, including about 270 species that are endemic to the island and are not found anywhere else in the world. Among the important and valuable species is the Two Brothers' Blood Tree. It should be noted that (10) of the 18 species of rare and threatened plants in Yemen are found in Socotra, which requires attention and preservation, as (7) species of them are listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as plants. Rare and threatened.

There are also plants on the island that are used in folk medicine and for treating many diseases. These plants include Socotra aloes trees, frankincense, myrrh, and blood of the two brothers trees, in addition to other medicinal plants commonly used on the island, such as geraz, euphorbia, and others. What draws the visitor’s attention is the spread of the “ummah” tree, in addition to To the dense forests of palm trees spread in many places, the most important of which are the banks of valleys where water flows throughout the year, where they form a green sandstone carpet with the blue of the sea surrounding the island, a wonderful artistic painting.

Second: Birds and marine life:

Socotra's birds are of many types, as they constitute one of the features of the diversity of nature. It includes one hundred and ninety species of birds and contains many aquatic organisms, such as turtles, coral reefs, and pearls, for which Socotra Island is famous.

There are 30 species of birds that breed on the island, and the island contains a high percentage of endemic birds.

Third: Caves and grottoes:

Many caves and mountain caves are spread in many locations on Socotra Island and its affiliated islands, and they are considered one of the habitation patterns for Socotra humans.

These caves were formed as a result of natural erosion factors, and in some of them “geohydrological” factors interacted, as the water dissolved the lime and formed limestone columns hanging from the top of the cave surfaces, in addition to limestone columns rising from the bottom of the caves to the top, and most of these caves and caves are inhabited by people, from whom they live their lives. The usual natural cave, the most important of which is generally the "De Jeb" cave in the Nojd Plain, is considered the largest in size and can accommodate a number of families. The car carrying visitors can also reach the cave's interior and move in and out of it without difficulty. De Jeb's Cave is 75 kilometers away from the center of Hadibo. meter.

Fourth: Beaches:

The island's beaches extend over a distance of (300 miles) and have unique characteristics in terms of their pure white sand dunes, which appear to the visitor like piles of cotton crops, most of which are shaded by palm trees.

It overlooks the sea water free of pollution factors, where you can see fish species swimming in it, and all of them are ideal sites for recreation and diving after the availability of infrastructure services on the island and the preparation of these beaches with tourist services. The beach waters also contain many rare aquatic organisms, including turtles of various shapes, such as the large green turtle. the size

In addition to the coral reefs and pearls that Socotra Island has been famous for since ancient historical times.

Fifth: Waterfalls:

On the island of Socotra, there are a number of abundant waterfalls spread in various locations, the most important of which is the “Danghan” Falls in Hadibu, which is only 6 km away from the center, as well as the Halah, Mumi, Qa’ara and Ayhaft Falls, and most of these waterfalls originate from the tops of the mountains throughout the year.

In general: activating tourism movement to Socotra Island requires providing infrastructure services in all tourist attraction areas and thus providing auxiliary tourism services within the framework of the integrated plan to protect natural reserve areas.

Economic advantages of Socotra Island:

Socotra Island is distinguished by the diversity of its economic resources, and these resources are as follows:

A-  The island is considered an important fishing area and has a large fish reserve.

B-    The availability of many types of soil, such as histosol soil with organic materials, alluvial soil, red soil, pitcher soil, and other soils, has contributed to the possibility of growing palm trees, which are available for more than 25 types of dates.

C-   D- The population widely practices the profession of herding in the mountains and plateaus, which has provided great livestock wealth on the island. The presence of commercial grazing on the island may improve the condition of the herding population and the condition of their pastoral profession as well.

D-  E- Many researchers consider this island to be one of the vital and important regions in the availability of mineral resources such as oil, gas, and other resources in the foreseeable future.

E-   Handicrafts on Socotra Island

F-    First: Northern Sufi spinning and weaving

G-  The island of Socotra is almost unique in weaving and spinning wool from all the Yemeni regions that used to weave and spin woolen scarves, and make different colors and sizes from them in Qalansiya / Nawhid / Wahdibu. The shamail industry is concentrated in the village of (Momi) and is considered one of the best and finest industries and is 93 km east of Hadibu. No tourist or visitor can bid farewell to the island unless he buys from this beautiful, cheap price of the north.

H-  There are three types of northern:

I-     Locally made from goat and sheep.

J-     A mixture of local and imported wool.

K-   Wool imported from abroad through Hadramaut and Aden.

L-    Second: Pottery

Socotra Island is unique in two types of pottery due to the soil found on it. The first type is made from reddish-brown soil and the second type is made from white yin soil. We display it in Socotra markets, and most tourists and visitors buy this pottery. 

Third: Carpentry and shipbuilding:

This craft is still widespread in the coastal plains and the bottomlands, such as making doors, windows, wooden boxes, and door locks.

Among the wood craftsmanship is the manufacture of boats, small and medium-sized fishing poles, and boat oars. These industries require great experience and skill, including the manufacture of garqir, which is intended for fishing nets and reaches two meters in height and about three to four meters in length.

Socotra Island is one of the richest marine areas due to the abundance and diversity of marine trees and their medicinal benefits for the wood and carpentry industries. 

Fourth: Leather industries:

The leather industries on the island of Socotra are durable, elaborate, and beautiful in appearance, especially cowhide. The wafa, which is a tablecloth, is still widely used in the Socotra desert. It is a special tablecloth made of cowhide, decorated with natural colors of brown, black, and white. It is in demand among visitors and tourists.