Very well recognized by the international tourism community, Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is a South Asian island nation in the Indian Ocean.
Boasting 99% sea and 1% land, Maldives is an absolute gem and an experience like no other. Here are some riveting facts!
Maldives is an archipelago comprising about 1192 low-lying islands, grouped into 26 atolls. However, only 200 of them are inhabited and some 80 are exclusive resort islands.
Spanning about 115 sq. mi., Maldives is one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world. It is also the smallest Asian country by land area.
Geographically, Maldives is located near the Equator. Owing to this, it has exceptionally warm temperatures all through the year – be it summer or monsoon – making it one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the world.
Malé is the capital and most populous city of Maldives. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, it comprises a central island, an airport island, and two other islands controlled by the Malé City Council.
The beaches of Maldives boast powder-fine white sandy shores, which are actually made up of corals. Coralline beaches are pretty rare in the world; only 5% of world’s beaches are made of corals. That makes Maldives a must-visit location too!
In 2009, the world’s first ever underwater cabinet meeting was held in Maldives. Wearing scuba gear and oxygen tanks, the cabinet members plunged into the sea for a unique meeting held so as to highlight the threat of global warming in Maldives.
Climate change, rising sea levels, plummeting coral levels, and massive land erosion are all adversely impacting the islands of Maldives. The country’s government has strict policies to curb any further damage and degradation due to these factors.
Maldives’ maximum elevation above the sea level is only 2.4 m. This makes it the world’s lowest and flattest country, and it also holds a Guinness World Record for being so.
The Whale Shark, the world’s biggest fish, can be found in large numbers in Maldives’ seas. You can actually take a dive with a certified instructor and swim alongside this magnificent creature.
... the olive ridley sea turtle, the loggerhead sea turtle, the leatherback sea turtle, the green sea turtle, and the hawksbill sea turtle.
Maldives is home to five of the seven different species of marine turtles in the world ...
In Maldives, the shapes of some islands keep on naturally modifying, especially during monsoon, as their sands tend to move to and fro because of seasonal currents. Sandbanks also tend to emerge and disappear, owing to this action.
In olden days, the Maldivians used corals to build their houses. However, today as the coral reefs are protected worldwide, such kind of traditional housing is now prohibited on the islands.
Unlike the rest of the world where the weekend falls on Saturday and Sunday, weekend in Maldives falls on Friday and Saturday.
Maldives is an Islamic country, which means that numerous Islamic laws are followed by its people. Alcohol, for instance, is prohibited in the country, except in the tourist resorts and clubs.