Socotra

This paradise in the Indian Ocean at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden is home to an extraordinary diversity of species. Of the more than 800 plant species, just over a third are endemic. Also endemic are 75 % of the reptiles found here and 80 % of the land snails. For all these reasons, Socotra was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

One of the most exotic trees is the dragon tree of Socotra, also known as the dragon's blood tree, with an umbrella-like crown. Its resin, dragon's blood, has been used as a dye since ancient times.

The desert rose is also famous. They grow up to 5m high and can reach a trunk diameter of up to 2m. They can be found everywhere on Socotra and when they are in bloom they transform the landscape into a sea of flowers.

The archipelago is one of the most important regions in the world for preserving its biodiversity (World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.