TTL_BOOK_v8 30.07.25 - Flipbook - Page 49
BEYOND THE FRAME
The photo was taken on Socotra Island, one of the most isolated and
ecologically unique places on Earth, located in the Arabian Sea.
Photographer Daniel Kordan says he was drawn to this remote place
by “its extraordinary biodiversity and the iconic dragon blood trees”,
adding that “their umbrella-like canopies and striking red sap make
them one of the most fascinating trees in the world.” He says that
“Socotra’s isolation, about 238 miles south of Yemen and 50 miles east
of Somalia, has allowed for the evolution of countless plant and animal
species found nowhere else” and remembers it as “a place where nature’s
beauty feels timeless and magical.”
Socotra Island is a biodiversity hotspot – 37% of its plants,
90% of its reptiles, and 95% of its land snails are found
nowhere else on Earth, making it a living museum of
evolution. The dragon blood tree, with its distinctive shape
and red sap, is a symbol of the island’s unique natural
heritage. The red resin that comes out of its trunk when
it is cut has been used for many things including pottery
glaze, makeup, nail polish, and is also a remedy against
certain health issues. While most trees draw water from
the soil and transport it into their leaves, dragon blood
trees also have the ability to reverse the process, capturing
water from the fog and clouds and passing it down into
the soil.
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