Socotra Island

The most alien-looking place on Earth/Natural Wonders

Socotra is an island in the Arabian Sea belonging to Yemen, located about 240 kilometers east of the Horn of Africa. Often called 'the most alien-looking place on Earth,' it has been isolated from mainland Africa for at least 6 million years, resulting in extraordinary biodiversity. Roughly one-third of its plant species are found nowhere else, including the iconic dragon's blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari), which resembles an inside-out umbrella and produces red resin. The island is about 132 kilometers long and 50 kilometers wide, covering roughly 3,625 square kilometers.