[08/12/2023 05:49]

SOCOTRA-SABA
Governorate of Socotra archipelagos this year revels in a promising tourist season started last October and it is set to continue until next May as it comes to its end as usual due to the weather's turbulences.

The tourism activities ceased in Archipelagos for four months from May to September .

The archipelagos has received over the recent weeks hundreds of eco-tourism enthusiasts, research scientists and explorers to enjoy the archipelago’s fabulous topography, unique terrestrial and marine biodiversity and very rich environmental and cultural heritage and characteristics that have made it a destination for tourism in Yemen.

The Yemeni national government and local authority in the governorate of the archipelagos have keenly sought recently to revitalize the tourist businesses in Socotra Island.

To help in this a set of practical measures have been taken to improve tourist infrastructure and services, establish security and stability as well as train tourist guides.

Socotra Island is very famous for its unique landscape and eco-system as it is one of the world's most important four islands in terms of plant biodiversity and home to thousands of plants, animals, endemic birds and marine life.

Socotra archipelagos is actually classified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as one of the richest and most biological diverse islands. biology in the world

Socotra Island is distinguished from other tourist sites by its diversity, it is branded as one of the four most important islands in the world in terms of plant biodiversity and home to thousands of plants, animals, endemic birds and marine life.

It is also classified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as one of the richest and most biodiversity islands in the world.

The number of plants species in the archipelago estimated at about (850) species of plants out of which (270) species are endemic to the island and are not found anywhere else in the world.

The most prominent of all are the two brothers’ blood tree, the Socotra aloe and frankincense, which are medicinal plants commonly used to treat many diseases.

There are also several unique plants include the "Ummah" plant, which residents use as animal fodder, the Farhal plant with long stems, the Kartab plant that grows on cliffs, the endangered wheat plant, the Iksha tree, which usually grows on mountain slopes and produces clusters of large juicy fruits, the wild pomegranate tree.

There are more than 290 species of birds in Socotra including 44 species that breed in the archipelago, including rare species threatened with extinction and 58 species migrate from it annually and on a regular basis. It also receives dozens of species of migratory birds every year that see Socotra’s nature as a safe place for shelter and rest.

As for the island’s beaches, which extend to a distance of (300 miles), they are renowned for their unique characteristics in terms of their pure white sand dunes, the clarity of their water and the spread of palm trees, which makes it one of the best places for swimming and recreation

Visitors to these beaches can also dive into the depths of the sea to see various marine life, as there are 253 species of coral reefs, 730 species of coastal fish, and 300 species of crab, lobster and shrimp, according to UNESCO statistics.

Besides the beaches, there are several waterfalls in Socotra. The most important of all is the "Danghan" Falls in Hadibu, located 6 km away from the center. There are also the Halah, Mommi, Qa’ara and Ahafat Falls. Most of these waterfalls originate from the tops of the mountains throughout the year.

---