View source for Socotra

{{Infobox islands
| name             = Socotra
| image            = Socotra satview.jpg
| image_size       =
| map_image        = Socotra Archipelago.PNG
| map_caption      =
| native_name      = {{lang|ar|سُقُطْرَى}}<br>''{{transl|ar|Suquṭra}}''
| native_name_link = Arabic language
| nickname         =
| location         = Between the [[Guardafui Channel]] and the [[Arabian Sea]]
| coordinates      = {{Coord|12|30|36|N|53|55|12|E|scale:1000000|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = [[Socotra Archipelago|Socotra]]
| total_islands    = 4
| major_islands    = Socotra, [[Abd al Kuri]], [[Samhah]], [[Darsah]]
| length_km        = 132
| width_km         = 50
| area_km2         = 3796
| highest_mount    = Mashanig, [[Hajhir Mountains]]
| elevation_m      = 1503
| country          = {{flagicon|YEM}} Yemen 
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[Governorates of Yemen|Governorate]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[Socotra Governorate|Socotra]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1   = [[Districts of Yemen|Districts]]
| country_admin_divisions_1         = [[Hidaybu District|Hadibu]] (east)<br>[[Qulensya Wa Abd Al Kuri District|Qulansiyah wa 'Abd-al-Kūrī]] (west)
| country_admin_divisions_title_2   = Sub-districts
| country_admin_divisions_2         =
| country_admin_divisions_title_3 =
| country_capital_and_largest_city  = [[Hadibu]]
| country_largest_city_population   = 8,545
| population       = 60,000
| population_as_of =
| density_km2      = 11.3
| ethnic_groups = predominantly [[Soqotri people|Soqotris]]; minority [[South Arabia]]ns, [[Indian people|Indians]], and [[Bantu peoples|Bantu]]
| module           = {{designation list | embed=yes
   | designation1 = WHS
   | designation1_offname = Socotra Archipelago
   | designation1_date = [[List of World Heritage Sites by year of inscription#2008 (32nd session)|2008]] <small>(32nd [[World Heritage Committee|session]])</small>
   | designation1_type = Natural
   | designation1_criteria = x
   | designation1_number = [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1263 1263]
   | designation1_free1name = State Party
   | designation1_free1value = Yemen
   | designation1_free2name = Region
   | designation1_free2value = [[List of World Heritage Sites in the Arab States|Arab States]]
}}
| website       =
}}
'''Socotra''' ([[Somali language|Somali]]: Suqadara, {{lang-ar|سُقُطْرَى}} ''{{transl|ar|Suquṭra}}'') is an island east of the [[Horn of Africa]]. It lies between the [[Guardafui Channel]] and the [[Indian Ocean]]. Although Socotra belongs to Yemen, in 2018 it was taken over by the [[United Arab Emirates]].

==Geography==
To its west it is joined by an [[archipelago]] of much smaller islands. It is also named the Islands of San Gustav after the navigator who discovered them, Gustav Peter Galle Daniels. It is located {{convert|240|km|mi}} east of the [[Horn of Africa]] and {{convert|380|km|mi}} south of the [[Arabian Peninsula]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.youth.cn/yculture/200911/t20091118_1085530.htm|publisher=en.youth.cn|title=Socotra islands scenery in Yemen|date=25 April 2008}}</ref> 

==Climate==
Socotra has a [[:wikt:borderline|borderline]] [[tropical climate|tropical]], [[desert climate]] and [[semi-arid climate|semi-desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''BWh'' and ''BSh''), with an average yearly temperature over {{convert|25|°C|°F}}. With a total of only {{convert|193|mm|in}}, the yearly rainfall is light but is fairly spread throughout the year. The total rainfall in the mountains can average as much as {{convert|800|mm|in}} per year and can average over {{convert|250|mm|in}} per month from October to December, during the northeast [[monsoon]].<ref>Scholte, Paul, and, De Geest, Peter; ‘The climate of Socotra Island (Yemen): A first-time assessment of the timing of the monsoon wind reversal and its influence on precipitation and vegetation patterns’; ''Journal of Arid Environments'', vol. 74, issue 11 (November 2010); pp. 1507-1515</ref> The southwest monsoon season from June to September brings strong winds and high seas.

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|metric first= Yes
|single line= Yes
|location= Socotra
|Jan record high C = 30.0
|Feb record high C = 31.7
|Mar record high C = 32.8
|Apr record high C = 37.2
|May record high C = 38.5
|Jun record high C = 40.6
|Jul record high C = 37.4
|Aug record high C = 34.4
|Sep record high C = 35.6
|Oct record high C = 37.0
|Nov record high C = 33.0
|Dec record high C = 30.6
|year record high C = 40.6
|Jan high C = 27.1
|Feb high C = 27.8
|Mar high C = 29.2
|Apr high C = 31.8
|May high C = 34.6
|Jun high C = 33.8
|Jul high C = 32.3
|Aug high C = 32.4
|Sep high C = 33.2
|Oct high C = 30.8
|Nov high C = 29.6
|Dec high C = 28.3
|year high C = 30.8
|Jan mean C = 24.8
|Feb mean C = 24.8
|Mar mean C = 26.3
|Apr mean C = 28.7
|May mean C = 31.3
|Jun mean C = 30.8
|Jul mean C = 29.5
|Aug mean C = 29.5
|Sep mean C = 29.3
|Oct mean C = 27.9
|Nov mean C = 27.0
|Dec mean C = 25.8
|year mean C = 28.0
|Jan low C = 22.6
|Feb low C = 21.7
|Mar low C = 23.3
|Apr low C = 25.5
|May low C = 28.0
|Jun low C = 27.9
|Jul low C = 26.8
|Aug low C = 26.5
|Sep low C = 26.4
|Oct low C = 24.9
|Nov low C = 24.4
|Dec low C = 23.3
|year low C = 25.1
|Jan record low C = 17.0
|Feb record low C = 17.2
|Mar record low C = 18.9
|Apr record low C = 20.3
|May record low C = 21.2
|Jun record low C = 22.8
|Jul record low C = 21.7
|Aug record low C = 22.0
|Sep record low C = 22.2
|Oct record low C = 19.4
|Nov record low C = 18.9
|Dec record low C = 17.0
|year record low C = 17.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 2.5
|Feb rain mm = 2.5
|Mar rain mm = 10.2
|Apr rain mm = 0.0
|May rain mm = 2.5
|Jun rain mm = 30.5
|Jul rain mm = 0.0
|Aug rain mm = 0.0
|Sep rain mm = 2.5
|Oct rain mm = 10.2
|Nov rain mm = 50.8
|Dec rain mm = 81.3
|year rain mm = 193.0
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 2.4
|Feb rain days = 0.8
|Mar rain days = 0.4
|Apr rain days = 1.0
|May rain days = 0.4
|Jun rain days = 0.8
|Jul rain days = 0.2
|Aug rain days = 0.0
|Sep rain days = 0.6
|Oct rain days = 2.2
|Nov rain days = 7.7
|Dec rain days = 5.2
|year rain days = 21.7
|Jan humidity = 70
|Feb humidity = 68
|Mar humidity = 67
|Apr humidity = 66
|May humidity = 62
|Jun humidity = 60
|Jul humidity = 58
|Aug humidity = 57
|Sep humidity = 62
|Oct humidity = 69
|Nov humidity = 72
|Dec humidity = 73
|year humidity = 65
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_414940_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Sokotra (Suqutrá), Insel / Arabisches Meer / Jemen
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = German
| accessdate = 26 April 2018}}</ref>
|date=March 2012}}

==Wildlife==
The island is very isolated and some 30% of its plant species are [[Endemism|found only on]] Socotra. It has been described as the most alien-looking place on Earth. The island is {{convert|132|km|mi}} in length and {{convert|49.7|km|mi}} in width.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/09/most-alien-looking-place-on-earth.html|date=4 September 2008|work=Dark Roasted Blend|title=The Most Alien-Looking Place on Earth|access-date=12 March 2013|archive-date=5 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005054207/http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/09/most-alien-looking-place-on-earth.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Country==
Socotra belongs to the [[Yemen|Republic of Yemen]]. From late 2017 to mid-2018, Socotra was occupied by the [[United Arab Emirates]]. In 2018, the island was also occupied by [[Saudi Arabia]].  The Emiratis and later the Saudis came to Socotra because of the [[Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)]].  Since 2017, Socotra is no longer under the [[control]] of the [[international]]ly [[recognition|recognized]] Yemeni [[government]]. The island is under the control of the UAE and under the [[authority]] of the [[secession|sessecionist]] [[Southern Transitional Council]] which is supported by UAE troops.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200228-second-army-regiment-rebels-against-yemen-government-in-socotra/|title=Second army regiment rebels against Yemen government in Socotra|website=Middle East Monitor|date=28 February 2020}}</ref>

==Related pages==
*[[Galápagos Islands]], an archipelago of Ecuador which is also famous for its isolated geography and plant and animal species

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:Islands of Africa]]
[[Category:Geography of Yemen]]


{{geo-stub}}
{{Africa}}

{{authority control}}