Ovo je vrlo čudan otok s čudnom i jedinstvenom florom i faunom koja se ne može vidjeti drugdje u svijetu. Čini se kao da nije s ovog planeta. Nalazi se u Indijskom oceanu, 250 km od Somalije i 350 km od Jemena. Ima 40.000 stanovnika. Nema hotela ni restorana, ima samo jedan put – sagrađen prije dvije godine.
Socotra Island
Socotra Island
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Klima je oštra, vruća i suha.
Dugačke pješčane plaže se uzdižu i pune pećine (neke su i 7 kilometara duge) i planine visoke do 1.525 metara.
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Ime Socotra je izvedeno sa sanskrtskog i znači otok blaženstva. Zbog plaža? Zbog izolacije i tišine? Čudnog i ludog botaničkog ushićenja?
Na Socotri su se biljke očuvale, tijekom duge geološke izolacije, u svojim prvobitnim oblicima od prije 20 milijuna godina.
Dracena cinnibaris ili vražje krvavo drvo, izvor vrijedne smole je lijek za sve i (pretpostavljamo) koristila se u srednjevijekovnoj čaroliji i alkemiji.
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Grane se šire prema nebu i odozdo se čine da lebde nad pejzažem kao mnogo letećih tanjurića, a odozgo sliče gljivama:
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Tamo raste i pustinjska ruža (adenium obesium) koja izgleda kao cvjetajuća slonovska noga:
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Dorstenia gigas – očito ne zahtijeva nikakvo zemljano tlo, a korijenje raste na golom kamenju.
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Također nađeno u pejzažu Socotre je i uvijek čudnovato i iznimno rijeko drvo krastavca (dendrosicyos socotranum):
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Kretati se po otoku je izazov jer gotovo da i nema cesta.
Uprkos činjenici da je na otoku oko 40.000 stanovnika, Jemenska vlada je prvu cestu izgradila prije dvije godine – poslije pregovora s UNESCO-om, koji je otok proglasio svjetskom prirodnom baštinom. Poželjnija je vožnja na devi nego „all road“ kvgava i spora vožnja...
To je tiha i mirna enklava u inače turbulentnom svijetu. Ako odlučite doći ovamo, možete zaboraviti na hotelske sobe koje gledaju na plažu i restorane; otok je okrenut eko turizmu i podržava lokalno gospodarstvo i ovdašnji način života.
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Otok je i raj za ptice, s oko 140 različitih vrsta, od koji se deset ne može naći nigdje drugdje na svijetu:
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Želite li vidjeti neke od bajkovitih (vjerojatno ukletih) potopljenih olupina? Na raspolaganju su i ronilačke ture…
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Za tračak Socotranske i Jemenske jedinstvene arhitekture, pogledajte grad Al Hajarah
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