Media news from Yemen...

That the historical importance of the Socotran Archipelago got neglected for centuries is no shocking news, but some recent messages are not providing true value for the new discoveries, try next Sana News info.

Socotra Yemen Heaven on Earth

This Yemeni video might be 1 year old, but stil more than ok.
If you want to dream away for the next 18min of travelling to the archipelago in the Arabian sea, just klick on play below!

Socotra: Yemen’s Exotic Secret book published

Another book about Socotra, but this time with a most interesting cover. The book, introduced by Abdul-Karim al-Iryani, Former Prime Minister of Yemen, invites the reader with his personal experience HERE.

Socotra just became a World Heritage Site !!!

Finally, after years of collective work of Yemeni Ministries, Governements and international University teams, NGO's, individuals and lot's of confincing scientific evidence... a big breakthrough... "Socotra is a part of the World Heritage Sites on this planet" (UNESCO)

We can only hope that this new achievement will give a boost to the conservation and sustainable development of the Island(s), ...as many caves are urgently in need of protection implementations!

For more details click here!

Time to update and inform all!

Dear readers,

After many changes on different levels, it's time to "revive" our Socotra Karst Project (SKP) informative blog. We just explored and mapped the longest cave of the Middle East (all details next month), presented the initial Dutch version of our expedition film: "Mystery Island" and started up the last run to finalize our Dbases. Just to mention that we're still alive!

First issue is an update of this blog, which can be seen as the "Hot News" of our website. The latter will be tackled later on.

Enjoy,
Peter

Film and media news

The new documentary film "Eiland vol mysteries" (= Mystery Island) about our SKP-related adventures between 2000-2008 is a fact. There probably will come an English version of it, but when exactly remains a bit uncertain, we'll keep you informed.
Although probably not immediately readable, I do provide the direct media links: click here and here.

Pop by if you can...

Just to mention to you all that on Saturday June 7th our next exploration documentary will be shown in public. If you would happen to be in Belgium, feel free to come of course!

Dubai Natural History Group Presentation

After becoming members of the Dubai Natural History Group last months, we had the honer to give a presentation about the Soqotra Karst Project. The audience was both plenty, interested and interactive, a real pleasure to talk to, thanks!

The longest cave of Arabia!!!

Giniba Cave becomes the longest cave of Arabia! The more than 13,5 km long system has been dived and explored post-siphon. There are still possibilities to crack the 15 km limit and go for 20 km, but the physical endurance part and logistics become more than challenging... All details in a few months time!

Counting and drawing...are there records to break?

He're currently counting all the topo data and building up Giniba cave.
There might be some records to break, although this has never been our ambition.
Anyway, Giniba Cave is situated in the hart of Soqotra, so it might be a nice symbolic gesture.
.

Almost "live" from Soqotra!

Rudi Debbaut just called me minutes ago from Soqotra Island.
Most energy of the team has been put in Giniba Cave as Difshelei Cave received too much water and hence sediments blocking the lowest passages even more than last time.
Post siphon approx. 2km is mapped. The main gallery end on another siphon. Just before a side gallery heading south for another 2km also ends on a siphon. This gallery can also be followed in northern direction over another 400m.
The SKP9 team probably discovered the resurgence of the cave system at the surface.
Although the real counting has to begin, it is already a major succes, congratulations men!