索科特拉岛英文.ppt

* Socotra (Suqu?ra), also spelled Soqotra, is a small archipelago(群岛) of four islands in the Indian Ocean. The largest island, also called Socotra, is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It has been described as the most alien-looking place on Earth. The island measures 132 kilometres in length and 49.7 kilometres in width. Socotra is part of Yemen. The island is very isolated and a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet. Dragon‘s Blood trees, prized for its red medicinal sap(树液), the Dragon’s Blood is the most striking of 900 plant species on the Socotra islands. Dragon‘s Blood Tree, the source of valuable resin for varnishes(上漆), dyes（染色）, and “cure-all” medicine; also (predictably) used in medieval ritual magic and alchemy（点金术）. The branches spread out into the sky and from below appear to hover over the landscape like so many flying saucers（飞碟）... and from above they have a distinct mushroom look. Socotran “desert roses”, whose obese trunks are adapted to store water. Here is also the Desert Rose which looks like nothing so much as a blooming elephant leg。 Apparently does not require any soil and sinks roots straight into the bare rock。 Myrrh [m?] Mastic [m?st?k] This island is a birder‘s paradise as well, with 140 different species of birds; 10 of which are not found anywhere else in the world. Egyptian Vultures *