THE MALDIVES

The Maldive islands consist of a low-lying chain of islandatolls characterised by its tropical islands and amazing underwater beauty.Spanning a total of 900 km in the Indian Ocean, it straddles the Equator withits most upper point in the northern hemisphere and the lower end in the south.

Geography

There are 19 atolls in the Maldives, with about a 1190islands. The biggest of which is about 13 sq km, and the highest point is atabout 3m above sea level. The Maldives lie about 770 km southwest of Sri Lanka and685km of India. The total land surface in the Maldives is 289 sq km, and 107.5sq km of water. It is a completely flat country with no lakes, rivers ormountains cluttering its graceful landscape of palm trees and white beaches.

All of the Atolls of the Maldives have two names. One istheir official name, and the other is a letter of the thaana alphabet used as common reference. The following are therespective names of each atoll.

Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi or Haa Alifu Atoll has 42 islands

Tiladummathi Dhekunu buri or Haa Dhaalu Atoll has 35 islands

Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi or Shavaiyani Atoll has 51 islands

Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi or Noonu Atoll has 71 islands

Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi or RaaAtoll has 88 islands

Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi or Baa Atoll has 75 islands

Faadhippolhu orLhaviyani Atoll has 52 islands

Male’ orKaafu Atoll has 107 islands

Ari Atholhu Uthuruburi or AlifAlif Atoll has 33 islands

Ari Atholhu Dhekunuburi or Alif Dhaal Atoll has 49 islands

Felidhu orVaavu Atoll has 19 islands

Mulaku orMeemu Atoll has 35 islands

Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi or Faafu Atoll has 23 islands

Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi  orDhaalu has 56 islands

Kolhumadulu orThaa Atoll has 66 islands

Hahdhunmathi orLaamu Atoll has 82 islands

Huvadhu Atholhu Uthurubiru or Gaafu Alifu Atoll has 153 islands

Huvadhu Atholhu Dhekunuburi or Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll has 87 islands

Fuvahmulah orGnyaviyani Atoll has 1 island

Addu orSeenu Atoll has 23 islands

History

The name ‘Maldives’ is derived from the Hindu terms mahal (place) and diva (island).

The islands consist of two rows of atolls. These atollformations are the result of thousands of years of coral growth. Each year,coral colonies grow 1-4 cm, eventually emerging on the surface, causing theinner part of the coral to die. Lagoons are formed as a result, and theiropening to the outer ocean leads to erosion, turning the coral into the whitesandy beaches that the country is famous for. Give it a few hundred years, andislands are formed.

Key Dates in Maldivian History

The first people to have lived in the Maldives must havedone so before 9th Century AD, and were probably Buddhist Singhalesepeople who got shipwrecked on one of the Atolls around 4th/5th Century BC.

In 1153, Islam became the first official language ofthe Maldives.

1558brought in conflict between Indians and the Portuguese over the conquering ofthe Maldives.

In 1645, Maldives entered into a protectorate withthe Dutch, lasting until 1754.

Following another attack on Maldivian sovereignty, the Frenchwere allowed to garrison in the Maldives.

In 1887, the Maldives entered into a protectoratewith the British, where the latter promised to guard the country against anyenemies.

In 1932, the first constitution of the Maldives waspassed.

In 1953, the first President of the country waselected, the country becoming a republic after years of being a sultanate. The first republic was short lived andlasted only a few months, and it reverted to being a sultanate shortly.

On 26 July 1965, the Maldives signed the Declarationof Independence from the British.

In 1968, Ibrahim Nasir was elected as the secondPresident in the country’s history.

In 1978, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom became the ThirdPresident of the country.

In 2008, Mohammed Nasheed became the forthPresident, after the first multi-party Presidential elections in the Maldives.

Religion

Islam is the state religion of the Maldives. The way oflife of its people are influenced by the Quran. When you travel to theMaldives, please be mindful of the fact that muslims are not allowed to eatpork or drink alcohol. While alcohol is available on resorts (including at theEquator Village), you are not allowed to import any alcohol into the country.

Maldivian women are liberal and are not bound by law to wearthe headscarf, although a lot of women do choose to wear them. All islands inthe Maldives, including tourist resorts, have mosques.

Weather and Climate

Asthe Maldives is situated directly over the Equator, the climate is tropical. Asa result, temperatures are high all year round, ranging from 28 - 32 degreescelcius.   

Thereare two distinct monsoons. The southwest monsoon is from April to September andthe northeast monsoon is from October to March. The best time to visit theMaldives is during the latter, as this is the hot and dry season, and allow forbeautiful holiday weather as well as amazing visibility underwater for greatdiving.