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THE ISLAND OF HAPPINESS
The fame and historic important of Socotra dates back to the beginning
of holy commodities trade prosperity and the activity of the old trade
route which is much better known as Frankincense, Myrrh and Laudanum route
for the island was one of the main producers of such essential commodities
in addition to its being the back reserve for the support of Yemeni
ancient Hadramawt Civilization along the first millenium BC when the
kingdom of Hadramawt was named ( kingdom of Frankincense, Myrrh and
Laudanum).
In those old days, Socotra island produced the best quality
glue. The island became even more important and was widely famous for the
production of incense sticks (a kind of incense) and Socotra was known as
furthermost places of ancient civilization which used to consider those holy
commodities e.g. incense, Myrrh, Laudanum, glue and other perfumes to be
hallowed.
Not only that but, also named the land producing them as the
Holy Land or the Land of the god. That is why Socotra island was named by
ancient Greeks and Romans as the Happiness Island, as well as due to the
difficulty to reach it in the past. Many stories and legends have been
woven in respect thereto.
Today it is the focus of specialist researchers
in the field of rare protected natural areas for Socotra island . It is
considered to be one of the most important Worldwide Protected natural
areas.
Historical Introduction
* The name of the Socotra island originated from one old forgotten
language-dialect spoken at one time by the pre-historic passers to the
island. This ancient term of a name given for the island was "Eipheba
Sakhotora" which used to mean "The island of Happiness.
Foreign academics, Oriental and historians may pronounce the name in
four different ways: Asqo'ter, Soqutri, Sou'qatra and Soqotra. Ancient
Greeks called it "Dyo-sacreeda", while in the Romans' language
it is known as "Dyo-Socor-Yahlas" and "Dyo-Sotori".
Moreover, one ancient Greek language gave it the names
"fia-Soqa'tra" and "Soqater". Coming to the
inhabitants of the island itself, the common belief among them is that the
name was derived from combining two words together; Al-Souq (meaning the
market in Arabic) and "Qatra" (meaning a single drop of any
liquid).
One of the Portuguese military troops colonized the island (1507-1557).
They stayed till the end of the fifteenth century , just few years before
the Dutch invaded the island in 1614. Then, the British; colonized Aden on
January (1839).
The island had been, during the British rule, used either as a
temporary depot and refuge of the British crews and seamen, or as the
light-house location for guidance of the marine route for their ships. It
was also known to be one military garrison for the British troops.
On 30th November 1967 the island became part of what was
known as (South Yemen). But now after the reunification on 22nd
May (1990), It is a part of Republic of Yemen.
Location
Socotra is the largest Yemeni island, It is located east of Aden Gulf
between the Latitudes 12,8-12,42 north of the equator and the longitudes
53,19-54,33east of Greenwich and. It is 380 Km a way from Ras Fartak in
Mahrah Governorate ,
Having its own distinctive climatically, environmental, geographical
and natural characteristics, it is administratively related to Aden
province . It is away from Aden about 690 Kilometers.
* The geographical location of the island
is on the enter-linking point of the Arabian Peninsula, Africa and India
.
*This important marine location can make it a distinctive center for
Tourism and investment attraction, due to the island's supporting
elements of attractive features that were created through the nature
existing there. These are represented by its green forests that cover
extensive areas of land suitable to be transformed to several Tourism
scenes . Besides, certain tourist activities such as fish canning and
diving places can be implemented in such a rare and naturally protected
area.
Area
* Socotra stretches as a piece of land with an area of about 3650
square Km; up to a length 125 kilometer and width of 33 Km in the Indian
Ocean , with an archipelago of small islands like AL-Akhawain(the two
brothers) island,Darsah island,Samh island and Abdul Kori island which is
the most densely populated and is always known for its affluence of
Diamonds collection. It is the second largest an archipelago after
socotra.
The Relief
The surface of the island varies into four kind of Relief as the
follows:
1-The Mountains:
The most important of which are the mountainous range of Hajhar
mountains which are located at the eastern part of the island along Arida
Bay, overlooking the island of Capital Hadiboo and extending north
easterly to south westerly at a distance of 25 Km of which the highest
peak is Dawkam whose altitude 1630 m above sea level.
2-The Central Plateau:
It occupies most of the island area and is parted by Wadi Tatrar
(Tatrat Valley) into two main parts: The eastern and The western Plateau.
3-Sea Plains:
The coastal Plains are situated in the north and south of the island
and are non-existent in the east or west of the island due to the
extension of drifts to the coast.
The coastal plains are divided into two parts:
The northern coastal plain named Hadibo plain ,the southern plain which
is called by the island inhabitants as (Nawjad) .
4- The Wadis (valleys):
The plains are interspersed by many vallies . Some of which pour at the
northern part of the island and some of which pouer at its southern part
and the most important of which is azroo Valley which intersects the
island from north to south in addition to the valleys springing out from
the Hajhar Mountainous Rang which are characterized for their running
water all along the year
Climate
The island is prevailed generally with a sea relatively hot weather of
which the average daily temperature in Hajhar Mountains ranges between
25-28 Celsius while in June and July the temperature reaches its extreme
and falls during January and February.
The average humidity ratio ranges between 55% as the maximum in August
and 7% as the minimum in January.
The island is subjected to sharp southern westerly winds during the
summer months (June, July, August) with an average speed between 13-18 Km
/h, whose speed decreases gradually during September till end at the
beginning of October.
* Average annual rainfall of the island is 150-170 mm but this quantity
fluctuates to a great extent from one year to another.
Language
The people live a primitive life, for they speak a mixed language of
weak Arabic, and ancient Yemeni-Amhari and Himyarite languages, with some
words of Portuguese. All of them embrace the Islamic.
Traditions
It is inhabited by 65,514 people, they speak the dialect of grazing
and fishing besides the old Yemeni language .
The people are generally simple in their characters as they are not
busily worried by the problems of the prices or the economic reforms that
are currently taking place in the country. They are miserably poor, and
the practice of civil marriage among them is relatively very easy and very
reasonable ,as a social convention
Industry
*Cattle rearing : This is carried out by the peasants,
shepherds, farmers and rural villagers around most parts of the island's
territory, as a result of having a large and variable animal wealth ;
goats, sheep, cows, bulls and camels. Besides, pastures and natural green
fields are available every where.
*Fishing: It is considered to be the main skilled craft adopted by
large numbers of the island's population, as the whole region is well
known for its large fishery wealth.
*Commerce: This is a secondary activity as it is confined to some
owners of grocery and consumer shops found only in the capital Hadibu.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT
SOCOTRA
Socotra: The Forgotten Diamond of Yemen steps confidently towards the
future
Public Services:
1-Health :
In Hadibu alone, one general hospital is available for providing the
minimum basics of health services. It has been supported by a number of
clinics .
2- Transportation :
* Flights: There are two direct flights a week to the island from
Al-Rayan (Mukalla) you can also get there by small boats just in the good
weather .Preferably from 15th October until May. It is
difficult to reach it by small boats during the windy season .
*The roads: Inside Transportation
is available in the island but it is a bit costly, due to some mountainous
areas.
3-Telecommunication: The island has a domestic as well as
international telephone services.
4-Electricity:
Most people still use primitive lightening methods. That is the use of
stone friction to make a fire. The use electricity is extremely limited to
certain building belonging the government.
The
port and beaches:
* There are a number of beautiful beaches on the island, the most
important of which is Nawjed beach.and also many species of marine animals
and fish ,especially shrimps . .
* From the marine point of view, the port receiving the boats and
sailing ships arriving from Aden is still in its assembly form the marine
point of view , The port extension project of widening the port is
bunkering depot (of about 80 to 90 meters long) cost the Yemeni government one and half million dollars for Another new
project which expected soon to be implemented , as the allocated funds for
it is (7.5 million dollars)
* If
you need to know about important regions in the island, read the
following:
*Hadibu region: it is the capital of the island, it is the center of
socotra island located in the north-east of the island ,and it has the
largest urban center.
*Qalanseya region: it is situated in the western part of the island,
and equips many residential-populated quarters.
*Nouged region: it is situated in the southern part of the island, and
to the south of the serial chain of Hajeer mountains
*Investment:
* The investment future of the island is promising as there
seemed to be a start to establish units for refrigerators and freezers for
preservation of fish and consumable foods tuffs. There are certain
officially programmed plans that aim towards attracting national and
foreign capitals for investment in those projects possible to be raised
and sustained in the island. Those, in particular, relate to the business
field of frozen and tanned fish for the purposes of their packing,
marketing and exporting.
* The exports :
Most prominent goods, such as medical plant, Glue, Laudanum, Myrrh and
two Brothers Blood Trees , are currently exported by the island .
The Fish Wealth :
Socotra island is distinguished by the affluence of producing ,
different fish found in huge commercial quantities particularly the
Lobster and Rock Lobstes which are sought worldwide and known for their
international quality.
Investmen in exploitation of this resource represents a big chance for
local and foreign capitals.
*Prospects and Exploration:
The government of Yemen
has recently started granting permits for few internal firms seeking to
invest in the crude oil business. Initial surveys indicated the presence
of this natural resource along the extendable coasts of the island.
Socotra, the island of Dreams:
A natural Museum :
Socotra, the colony settlement for
rare natural birds and plants and enjoy an important strategic location,
is now prepared to become the pearl of the Arabian Sea and relatively
shining diamond. It is a new era.
*The island of Medical Shrubs :
In one way or the other, Socotra island can be regarded a kingdom of
medical shrubs and plants. Some of theme are rare, the others unique. It
occupies the tenth rank amongst the reachest island in the world in
respect of unique plantation kind and the rare ones.it boasts having 750
kinds of plants of which 600 kinds are rare and 150 kind are uniquely
owned by the island where noequivalents are available all over the
world,the most important of which is two Brothers Blood tree.the
sevendifferent Ladanum tree.
This cocentration of the kinds of Ladanum is not available anywhere
except on this island, in addition to other natural plants which are
commonly used on the island on which the socotra depended as a sort of
cure for the different diseases.
The largest medically important plants in island:
A) The Two Brothers Blood Trees : (Andam or Arhaib) .
The name of this tree has always been linked with the name of the
island due to its fame and importance since ancient times. The tree grows
on the top of mountains and its height reaches 6-9 m . the island people
make cracks on the trees trunk and then a viscuous red fluid flows and is
left till it is dried up . After that they collect it and pack it for
export.
The tree is involved in many primitive indigenous crafts on the island
. It is futrher used as medicine and many legends have been woven around
it of which that it grew from the blood of cane and mable when the first
human crime ever took place for as the blood flowed the tree sprang from
it .Another legend is that it grew from a clotted blood that flowed from a
dragon during its fight with an elephant till both got killed .The common
name for the plant amongst the indigenous people is( Arhaib).
B) Myrrh :
from the Trees known as "Murr" in Arabic language are and are
famously known for application in various medical treatments, together
with, trees of incense , palm and olives both of which become ripened with
their roses and seeds twice a year, while their fruits are annually
cultivated twice.
C) Frankincense trees :
It has 7 species of Frankincense trees, the most famous of which are
the Socotra aloe, olibanum, Merrh, Dragon blood .
Rare Birds:
* The island also abounds with many species of birds which form with
the plantation environment and Marine environment one of the Tourism
parameters.
* It is considered one of the most important locations in the Middle
east in which birds live due to the spread of natural woodland ( 105 kinds
of birds ) of which thirty kinds procreate on the island, ( 6 kinds
indigenous ) , (3 kinds are subject to extinction worldwide ...they are
The Socotran Starling, Socotran Alhazijah , and the Socotran Learner.
*. Socotra is one of the most important homes of rare birds in the
Middle East.
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