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Republic
of Maldives
(Paradise on Earth.) |
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About Maldives
location Of Maldives
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About Maldives
Marco polo referred to the Maldives as '(the) Flower of the
Indies', while Ibn Batuta, the famous 14th century Arab
traveler, called it in his chronicles 'one of the wonders of
the world'.
Scattered across the equator in the middle of the Indian Ocean,
the necklace of islands that form the Maldives offer a rare
vision of a tropical paradise. Palm fringed islands with
sparkling white beaches, turquoise lagoons, clear warm waters
and coral reefs teeming with abundant marine flora and fauna,
continue to fascinate visitors.
Truly a natural wonder, the islands rarely exceed two meters in
height. The 1,190 islands, consisting of 26 atoll formations,
are spread over an area of some 90,000 square kilometers.
The origins of the Maldivians are lost in antiquity. Historical
and archeological evidence indicate that the islands were first
inhabited over 5,000 years ago. There are also indications that
the Maldives, being on an important trade route, were settled by
people from all over the world leaving the origins shrouded
mystery. |
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Maldives (formerly Maldive Islands), island republic in southern
Asia, located in the northern Indian Ocean, southwest of the
southern tip of India. Maldives is made up of a chain of nearly
2000 small coral islands that are grouped into clusters of
atolls. It has a total area of 298 sq km (115 sq mi). The
capital and largest city of Maldives is Male (population, 1990,
55,130).
The islands are low-lying and have only small tracts of arable
land. Vegetation is dominated by coconut palms and breadfruit
trees. The climate is tropical and humid. The average annual
temperature is 26.7° C (80° F), with little seasonal variation.
The average annual precipitation is 1524 mm (60 in), most of
which falls between May and November. The principal natural
resource is the marine life of the surrounding seas.
The population of Maldives (1995 estimate) is 248,000, yielding
an average population density of about 832 persons per sq km
(about 2156 per sq mi). The most populous atolls are Male, the
capital and principal commercial center; Suvadiva; and
Tiladummati. The people are ethnically heterogeneous,
incorporating Indian, Sinhalese, Arabian, and African elements.
Islam is the state religion, and nearly all the people are Sunni
Muslims. The language is Divehi, an Indo-European tongue related
to Sinhalese.
The Maldivian economy is dominated by fishing, which accounts
for about 60 percent of all export trade. The catch is primarily
tuna; corals and shells are also taken. Coconuts are the
principal agricultural product; most food must be imported.
Industrial activity is largely limited to fish processing and
garment manufacturing. The tourist industry is growing; in the
early 1990s more than 235,000 tourists visited Maldives,
bringing in $18.8 million annually. The national currency is the
rufiyaa which is made up of 100 laari (11.10 rufiyaa equal
U.S.$1; 1994).
Maldives is a republic governed under a constitution promulgated
in 1968. Executive power is vested in a president, nominated by
the Majlis, or Citizens' Council, and then elected every five
years by universal adult suffrage. The Majlis, a unicameral
legislative body, consists of 40 directly elected members from
the 20 administrative atolls and 8 representatives appointed by
the president. The president appoints a cabinet that is
responsible to the Majlis.
The islands were settled by Buddhist peoples from southern Asia.
Islam was introduced in the 12th century. The Portuguese traded
at Male in the latter half of the 15th century. Although the
islands were ruled by a local sultan, European influence was
established over the area, first by the Dutch in the 17th
century and later by the British. In 1887 the Maldives Islands
formally became a British protectorate. In 1965 the Maldives
achieved independence as a sultanate, and in 1968 the people
voted to establish a republic. In 1988, Indian troops were
called in to foil a coup attempt by Tamil mercenaries.
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LOCATION
- Latitude 7º
60' 30" N to 0º 41' 48" S
- Longitude
72º 32' 30" E to 73º 45' 54" E
Time:
GMT + 5 hours
Area:
Total area 90,000 km2 (including sea within territorial waters)
Exclusive Economic Zone:
1,000,000 km2
Capital:
Malé |
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