The largest island, also called Socotra, is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It lies some 240 kilometres (150 mi) east of the Horn of Africa and 380 kilometres (240 mi) south of the Arabian Peninsula. The island is very isolated and through the process of speciation, a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet. It has been described as the most alien-looking place on Earth. The island measures 132 kilometres (82 mi) in length and 49.7 kilometres (30.9 mi) in width.

An Egyptian horse owner cares for one of his animals at stables in Giza near the capital on May 26, 2024. (Photo by Khaled Desouki/AFP Photo)

Rockhopper penguins live up to their name as they navigate the rugged coastline of Marion Island in the southern Indian Ocean. (Photo by Thomas P. Peschak)

Japanese designer Masaya Kushino creates dream couples, blurring the boundaries between footwear and impressive artwork.

A customer buys a box of bullits and a target of Osama Bin Laden October 3, 2001 at Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly, VA. Guns sales have risen across America since the September 11th terrorist attacks. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

A tiger cub has a short chat with a chimp. (Photo by Ian Tyas/Keystone Features/Getty Images). 27th November 1979

Miss Alsace, Delphine Wespiser walks along the stage during Miss France 2012 Beauty Pageant on December 3, 2011 in Brest, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)