The “most alien place on the planet” is the most bizarre ecological paradise. It was the inspiration for Avatar 2 VIDEO

Anyone who loves the world of Pandora will have been blown away by the second film – Avatar: Path of the Waters.

Once again, the filmmakers have wowed audiences with incredible vistas.

The planet Pandora is full of strange plants, bioluminescent forests and reefs, and of course, unusual (literally) animals.

If you’ve seen the movie Avatar – whether you loved it or hated it – there’s no doubt you’ve wanted to be transported to experience the fantastical landscapes firsthand.

However, it turns out that filmmakers and show creators didn’t always invent the plants and animals of Pandora out of thin air.

Places on our own blue planet inspired them.

One such place is Socotra Island, off the coast of the Republic of Yemen in the Indian Ocean.

“The most alien place on the planet”

The unusual island is so bizarre to look at that you could easily imagine it’s somewhere else in the universe – and with good reason.

Socotra is an ecological paradise with nearly 700 species of plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth.

Although Socotra is not currently a safe destination for travellers, it’s fascinating to know that such a place exists – and it’s believed that the unusual flora inspired the Avatar setting.

The island is sometimes dubbed “the most alien place on the planet,” in part because of the dragon-blooded trees that appear in its mountains and valleys.

The strange shape of the trees makes them resemble an umbrella, and when depicted together, it’s easy to imagine that they were the inspiration for much of the plant life on Pandora.

In addition, the trees get their striking name from the red sap they produce, which looks like blood seeping from the bark.

On Socotra there are also cucumber trees that have thick, fat trunks with almost no foliage at the top.

As for animals, dozens of bright blue bats and butterflies cover the island.

As well as having impressive valleys, unusual red rock formations, sand dunes and the Hajhir Mountains, the island has a pristine coastline.

Looking very much like Avatar: The Waterway, Socotra boasts brilliant white beaches, untouched by hotels, umbrellas or other tourist attractions.

The ocean itself is a fantastic bright turquoise colour, which darkens to a warm cobalt blue as you look further out.

Dolphins can even be seen swimming in the coastal area.

Caves also cover the island, with fascinating rock formations and imposing stalagmites inside the tunnels.

As for the people, there are about 50,000 inhabitants in several towns and villages.