Geography of The Socotra Islands
Socotra, a mountainous island in the Indian Ocean. It is a part of Yemen, which lies about 220 miles (354 km) to the north. Socotra has an area of 1,400 square miles (3,626 km2). The inhabitants are Muslims and speak a dialect of Himyaritic, an ancient language of Arabia. They live mainly by subsistence farming. The population is about 15,000. Hadibu is the island's chief town.
Socotra was known in ancient times to Arab, Greek, and other traders. Early in the 16th century the Portuguese established a base here but soon abandoned it because of poor harbors. The island was occupied by the British East India Company in 1834, and in 1886 came under British protection. It was part of the Protectorate of South Arabia until 1967, when South Arabia became independent as South Yemen. It became part of Yemen when South Yemen and North Yemen merged in 1990.