The Diksam Plateau or Dixam Plateau () is a
limestone
Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
plateau
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; : plateaus or plateaux), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. ...
in
Socotra
Socotra, locally known as Saqatri, is a Yemeni island in the Indian Ocean. Situated between the Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Sea, it lies near major shipping routes. Socotra is the largest of the six islands in the Socotra archipelago as ...
,
Yemen
Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...
. The ''Firmihin forest'', located east of the ''Dirhur canyon'' within the plateau, has the highest concentration of
Dragon's Blood Trees on the entire island.
Description
The Diksam Plateau is an extensive area located near the geographic center of Socotra between the
Hajhir Mountains
The Hajhir massif is a mountain range situated on the island of Socotra, Yemen. It is the highest point of the island.
Geography
The granite spires of the Hajhir massif are located in the hinterland of Socotra and are most easily accessed via th ...
and the southern coastal plain. Situated about 700 m above sea level, the plateau is home to herdsmen, named ''Bedouin'', who move from one site to another with their herds. They live in a high number of tiny villages scattered across the plateau, reflecting extensive
pastoralism
Pastoralism is a form of animal husbandry where domesticated animals (known as "livestock") are released onto large vegetated outdoor lands (pastures) for grazing, historically by nomadic people who moved around with their herds. The anim ...
, on which their inhabitants are dependent.
Wadi ''Dirhu'' or ''Daerh'' is a north–south running gorge dropping 700 m vertically from the plateau to the valley floor. The wadi is home of large stands of ''
Adenium obesum
''Adenium obesum'', more commonly known as a desert rose, is a poisonous species of flowering plant belonging to the tribe Nerieae of the subfamily Apocynoideae of the Apocynum, dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It is native plant, native to the Sahe ...
'' and ''
Dendrosicyos socotranus
''Dendrosicyos'' is a monotypic genus in the plant family Cucurbitaceae. The only species is ''Dendrosicyos socotranus'', the cucumber tree. The species is endemic to the island of Socotra in Yemen, and is the only species in the Cucurbitaceae to ...
''.
The largest and most extensive population of Dragon's Blood Trees of Socotra is shaping the landscape character of ''Rokeb di Firmihin'' in the east of the plateau. The spot covers an area of 540 ha exposed to the southwestern monsoon and rains. The population suffers from regeneration and is therefore considered an endangered species.
[{{cite journal , first1=Radim , last1=Adolt , title=Field Survey of Dracaena Cinnabari Populations in Firmihin, Socotra Island: Methodology and Preliminary Results , journal=Journal of Landscape Ecology , date=2013 , volume=6 , issue=3, pages= 7–34, doi=10.2478/jlecol-2014-0001 , doi-access=free ]
See also
*
Geography of Socotra
References
Socotra
Plateaus of Yemen