Dragon's Blood Tree, by dianadrz@flickr

Socotra is an archipelago of islands in the Indian Ocean off the Horn of Africa that hosts some of the more interesting plant and animal species in the world.

Its separation from the African mainland occurred sometime in the Miocene geologic era, a period roughly 5 to 23 million years ago, and this isolation is one of the primary causes for the continued survival of its indiginous species.

The main island of Socotra is almost exactly the same land area as Long Island, has a similarly elongated (but stubbier) shape, a whole hell of a lot less traffic, and has a desert climate punctuated with a brief monsoon season each year.

Socotra, by Hoops & Yooyo@flickr

Dragon's Blood Trees by Valerio Pandolfo@flickr

Socotra - Qalansiyah Beach by Valerio Pandolfo

"Desert Roses" of Socotra, by x_serpico_x@flickr