evidence: - Official Tourism Site of Socotra island, Yemen - GlobalSecurity.org - Socotra, Indian Ocean - Middle East Research and Information Project - Revolution in Socotra - UNESCO World Heritage Convention - Socotra Archipelago, Yemen - Ancient Origins - The Lost World of Socotra: The Most Alien-Looking Place on Earth - Minority Rights Group International - Yemen: As the civil war rages on, the island of Socotra battles with climate change Socotra, island in the Indian Ocean about 210 miles (340 km) southeast of Yemen, to which it belongs. The largest of several islands extending eastward from the Horn of Africa, it has an area of about 1,400 square miles (3,600 square km). The Hajīr (Hajhir) Mountains occupy Socotra’s interior, whereas narrow coastal plains lie in the north and a broader plain in the south. To the southwest and west are the smaller islands of Samḥah and Darzah, called al-Ikhwān ("the Brothers"), and ʿAbd al-Kūrī, all of which also belong to Yemen. The islands stand on coral banks and may once have been connected with the African and Arabian mainlands. Socotra’s flora includes several famous species, among them myrrh, frankincense, and the dragon’s blood tree. In recognition of its distinct plant and animal life, the archipelago was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008.