Back Sokotra Afrikaans ሱቁጥራ Amharic Socotra AN سقطرى Arabic Socotra AST Sokotra adası Azerbaijani Socotra BAN Сакотра BE-X-OLD Сокотра (остров) Bulgarian সুকাত্রা Bengali/Bangla
 Landsat view of Socotra | |
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  Socotra Location within Yemen | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Between the Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Sea |
| Coordinates | 12°30′36″N 53°55′12″E / 12.51000°N 53.92000°E |
| Archipelago | Socotra |
| Area | 3,796 km2 (1,466 sq mi) |
| Length | 132 km (82 mi) |
| Width | 50 km (31 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,503 m (4931 ft) |
| Highest point | Mashanig, Hajhir Mountains |
| Administration | |
| Region |  Hadhramaut |
| Governorate | Socotra Archipelago |
| Capital and largest city | Hadibu (pop. 8,545) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 60,000 |
| Pop. density | 11.3/km2 (29.3/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | predominantly Soqotris; minority Yemenis, Hadharem, and Mehris |
Socotra,[a] locally known as Saqatri,[b] is a Yemeni island in the Indian Ocean. Situated between the Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Sea, it lies near major shipping routes. Socotra is the largest of the six islands in the Socotra archipelago as it comprises around 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It lies 380 kilometres (205 nautical miles) south of the Arabian Peninsula and 232 km (125 nmi) east of the Horn of Africa.[1] The inhabitants of the island are called Socotrans, and they speak Arabic and Soqotri.
Socotra is home to a high number of unique species (endemic). Up to a third of its plant life is unique. Due to the island's unusual geography, it has been described as "the most alien-looking place on Earth".[2] The island measures 132 km (82 mi) in length and 42 km (26 mi) across at its widest.[3] In 2008, Socotra was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[4]
The island is under the control of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a United Arab Emirates-backed, pro-Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), "secessionist" faction in Yemen's ongoing civil war.[5] The STC seized control of the island following a coup in 2020, ousting the local authorities and establishing its own governance.[6]
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- ^ Brown & Mies 2012, p. 6.
- ^ Huntingford, George Wynn Brereton (1980). The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. Hakluyt Society. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-904180-05-3.
- ^ Abrams, Avi (4 September 2008). "The Most Alien-Looking Place on Earth". DarkRoastedBlend.com.
- ^ "EU to protect Socotra archipelago environment". SabaNews.net. Yemen News Agency. 15 April 2008.
- ^ "Yemen's Socotra, isolated island at strategic crossroads". The Economic Times. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ Müller, Quentin (1 January 2025). "Socotra's coveted isles". Le Monde diplomatique. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
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