Maldives - where amazing islands are located on the world map. Where are the Maldives located: the geography of the Maldives and the map
Maldives - tropical paradise, where beach season lasts 365 days a year, where the serene blue of the sky is reflected in the crystal clear waters indian ocean. It seems that this idyllic corner was created only to enjoy the joys of life - problems and political intrigues bypass it. But this is a misleading impression. History Maldives full of events.
From the redins to the British
Unlike neighboring India and Sri Lanka, the history of the Maldives has been little studied. According to research, civilization on the islands has existed for more than 3,000 years. This theory was confirmed in the 1980s by the Norwegian archaeologist and writer Thor Heyerdahl. After excavating the Addu and Huvadu atolls, he found out that these lands were once inhabited by Aryan tribes. Tall white-skinned people with blue eyes and aquiline noses called themselves redins and worshiped the Sun.
Found fragments of pottery suggest that the sparse dwelled on the islands as early as 2000 BC.
Around the same time, the island of Nilandu was inhabited by cholines. However, little is known about their origin.
The Giravaru community claims to be the oldest aborigines of the Maldives. For centuries, its representatives lived on the island of the same name, but with the start of the construction of the international airport, they were forced to move to Male.
According to one version, the ancestors of the giravaru came from south india, on the other - from Australia.
In 500 BC The second wave of settlement began in the Maldives. The islands were settled by immigrants from Sri Lanka, who spread Buddhism.
Until the 16th century, the population of the islands consisted mainly of Indians, Malays and Sinhalese. But in 1507 the archipelago caught the attention of the Portuguese. They were followed by the French, the Dutch and the British, who in turn established their own protectorate.
Acceptance of Islam
Until the 12th century - more than 1000 years - the Maldivians practiced Buddhism. But in 1153, the Arab merchant Abu al-Bakarat landed on the islands, who convinced the local king to convert to Islam.
According to legend, every month the islanders sacrificed an innocent girl to the genie Rannamari. She was brought to the temple and left for the night. The next day, the unfortunate woman was found dead. Outraged by the cruelty of the ritual, Abu al-Bakar decided to put an end to it. At the appointed hour, he himself came to the sanctuary and spent the whole night reading the Qur'an. Holy suras scared away evil spirit, which disappeared into the depths of the sea and no longer disturbed the inhabitants of the island.
Since that time, the era of Islam and sultanates began in the Maldives, during which six dynasties and 90 rulers have changed.
Maldives in the 20th century
At the end of the 19th century, fearing expansion from India, the Maldivians signed an agreement with Britain. According to the document, the British provided their military assistance in the event of a foreign invasion, but did not interfere in the internal affairs of the country.
The British presence continued until 1965.
On July 26, 1965, the Maldives gained independence.
In 1932, the British supported Mohammed Shamsuddin III, who adopted the country's first constitution. The new law limited the sole power of the Sultan and ensured free elections. And in 1953, the ruler Amin Didi abolished the sultanate, adopted a new constitution and became the first president of the Republic of Maldives. He introduced universal primary education and suffrage for women. At the end of 1953, as a result of food riots, Amin Didi was overthrown.
He was replaced by Mohammed Fari Didi, who restored the sultanate and became the last, 94th Sultan of the Maldives. True, by that time the title had turned into a kind of honorary title, and real power passed to the prime minister.
The Maldives adopted its third constitution in 1968 in a referendum. Instead of the Maldives, the country became officially known as the Republic of Maldives. President Ibrahim Nasir held on to power for 6 years and fled the country in 1978 during a popular protest against rising prices.
Since 1978, for 30 years (6 five-year terms in a row), the Maldives has been single-handedly ruled by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoum. After the 2004 unrest, Gayoum promised to expand political freedoms. In 2008, the first multi-candidate presidential election was held, resulting in Mohamed Nasheed becoming the new President of the Maldives.
Since 2018, the country has been led by President Abdullah Yamin.
Country Summary
Capital Male. Founded 5 centuries BC. Political system Full name - Republic of Maldives. State structure- a presidential republic, divided into 19 administrative regions (alotts) and 1 district (Male). The independence of the Maldives was proclaimed on July 26, 1965 (formerly a protectorate of Great Britain), in 1968 the Maldives was declared a republic by referendum. The unicameral parliament is the main legislative body headed by the speaker. The head of state, head of government and executive power is the president. Maumoon Abdul Gayoum has been the President of the Republic of Maldives since 1978, very popular and revered among the local population. All citizens over the age of 21 have the opportunity to elect the president and other members of the government. Parliament appoints the president, but for this choice to be valid, he must be supported in a national referendum. The administration of the atolls is appointed by the government itself. There is not a single political party in the country, although this is not prohibited at all. Also there are no armed forces. The office of prime minister has not existed since 1975. The Republic of Maldives is a peaceful country that devotes a lot of energy to cooperation with world countries. She has close relations with Great Britain and Japan, with Russian Federation- diplomatic relations. Location The Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka on both sides of the Equator. In total, there are 1190 islands of coral origin, forming 26 atolls, stretching in a double chain perpendicular to the equator. The local population lives on 201 islands, 88 islands are used as tourist resorts. They have a variety of sizes and are designed to receive a different number of tourists. The length of the Maldivian archipelago from north to south is 820 kilometers, from east to west - 120. The Maldives are washed by the Indian Ocean. Largest cities Male is the capital of the Maldives, as well as the commercial and administrative center. It's the only one locality which can be called a city. Time zone UTC+5. Flight time from Moscow Flight time to the Maldives from Moscow (direct flight Moscow - Male) is 8 hours 30 minutes. Territory The total area of the Maldives is 298 sq. km. Population There are only 339.3 thousand people in the Maldives: Maldivians (Singhalese, Indians) - 90%, Arabs - 9%. Language The official language is Maldivian (Dhivehi). It originated about 1500 years ago, belongs to the Indo-Aryan languages, has its own script called tana, read from right to left. English is widely used in Male and in the resorts. Major Religions The state religion is Sunni Islam. In 1153 AD e. The Buddhist king Kalaminia, who ruled the Maldives at that time, converted to Islam, which remains the main religion to this day. Any other sects and religions are prohibited on the islands. Islam in the Maldives is liberal in nature, similar to that practiced in India and Indonesia.There are unusually beautiful mosques on the islands, and if you stay a little on the islands, you can immediately feel how important religion is here. On all the islands, residents pray several times a day.
When visiting the mosque, you can see what interesting ancient paintings cover their walls. They depict scenes from history and are designed to strengthen the spirit of the inhabitants of the archipelago, to control their upbringing and thoughts. Mosques also host important official meetings and events.
But religion peacefully coexists with modernity. For example, the minaret of the famous Islamic Center, built more than twenty years ago, peacefully coexists with the post office building. The Islamic center is included in the list of the most beautiful Asian mosques. The authorities took special care of its erection in order to strengthen the nation in this way.
Official currency Rufiyaa (Maldive rupee) = 100 lari, 1 USD = 12 rufiyaa. In circulation there are banknotes of 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 rufiyaas and coins of 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 lari. Mains voltage Mains voltage - 220 V. Climate The climate is tropical, warm, even due to the proximity of the equator, without significant temperature fluctuations throughout the year. The best weather conditions are from November to the end of April (northeast monsoon): the sea is calm, the weather is sunny, hot and dry. Sometimes in June-July there are short rains, but they are not so long - 20-25 minutes, and the sun shines again. From May to October - the monsoon season: heavy rains, high humidity, storms. The average daily maximum is +30.4°С. The average night minimum is +25.4°С. Water temperature +24–27°С all year round.
During the monsoon cycle (spring and autumn), intense tropical storms and thunderstorms have recently become more frequent.
Finance
What money to take with you Dollars. Dollars are accepted everywhere, there is no need to change them for rufiyaa, because even in souvenir shops on local islands purchases can be paid in dollars. Euros are accepted only in resorts, as well as in some souvenir shops.Where to change US dollars are accepted almost everywhere. Therefore, it is not at all necessary to exchange dollars for local currency upon arrival.
The American dollar is preferred especially by banks, where only dollars are exchanged for you. Exchange offices sometimes accept other world currencies, but this is not the rule.
IN resort areas you can find exchange offices on almost every corner. Money can be exchanged in large hotels. The exchange rate is almost the same everywhere, a little more profitable in Male than in hotels.
Credit cards Most hotels, shops, gas stations, car rentals, large shopping centers and restaurants accept payment cards, especially American Express, VISA, MasterCard and EuroCard. There is only one ATM in the Maldives from which you can draw from the account of foreign banks. You will find it in Male in front of the HSBC bank building. Shopping Souvenir products can be purchased in special shops in the resorts, which are open until late evening hours, souvenir shops in fishing villages and Male (Chandani Magu Street).
The diverse craft hobbies of the locals will give you a rich selection of all kinds of knick-knacks and really beautiful rare items.
Typical souvenirs are usually beautiful sea shells, shark jaws (a favorite souvenir of tourists), coconut oil, original silk clothes, sculptures carved from coconut wood, beautiful wooden utensils, painted souvenir plates, colorful fish figurines, paintings by local artists, coral jewelry, sarongs, wood crafts (hand-sawn red and black figurines), coconut monkeys.
On one of the islands, lovely painted boxes and jewelry are produced. They are made from a tree called funa.
On another island, you will find another original souvenir - wicker rugs, which are very light and pretty, they are made, like hand-made cane boxes.
Tourists very often buy wooden miniatures of Dhoni ships or sailboats. Usually Sri Lanka or Indian teas, smoking pipes, fans or sets are brought from the Maldives. You can also buy a CD with local traditional or contemporary music.
Things made from various stones will please you. This is not surprising, since the carving tradition here is very old, carefully passed on to the younger generations.
In Male, you can profitably buy high-quality foreign-made diving equipment and equipment.
Export from the country of black corals, products from a tortoise shell is prohibited.
Tipping Tipping is not officially accepted in the Maldives. But if the service was worth it, then unofficially, no one forbids to thank the attendants with a small amount: a hotel employee - $ 10, a waiter - 5%.
Some resorts add a service charge to the bill (usually 10%), in which case tipping is not necessary.
Taxi Services Classic auto taxis are available only in the capital Male, Gan and Addu atolls. The trip is paid at the rate of 15Rf plus 5Rf for luggage during the day and 20Rf after 24:00. Any stop, even for a minute, automatically ends the trip, which must be paid immediately. If you want to continue the trip, you will have to pay all over again.
There are several taxi services (work around the clock), all cars are equipped with air conditioning. Taxis can be stopped on the street or called by phone (in this case, the trip will cost 10Rf).
Public transport public transport as such does not exist. Because most of the islands are so small that transportation is simply not needed there. There is no spectacle familiar to us - a large accumulation of cars, the most common types of land transport are bicycles and motorcycles.
Basically, they use the services of water transport here - a local taxi can be called a wooden boat with a flat roof - dhoni. This is a traditional multi-purpose vessel, now upgraded with diesel engines. On this modest boat, you can swim to the island you need. As a rule, as a sign of greeting, tourists are immediately put on a wreath of pink or white flowers around their necks, offered refreshing, fragrant napkins and coconut milk. Large boats are called Vedis and are used for long journeys to distant atolls.
You can safely bargain with private carriers. There is no timetable, ships sail as they fill with passengers.
Car rental in Male and other major islands you can rent a car.
Road traffic is practically not regulated, there are no markings and road signs, or they have long been destroyed, there are also no traffic lights. The speed of movement is low, but drivers never give way to pedestrians, so you should be extremely careful on the few Maldivian roads.
customs control
To pass customs control at the airport in Male, it is necessary to present all things for inspection, including hand luggage. It must be remembered that:
Import prohibited:
Any narcotic substances, including psychotropic
- pornographic materials recorded for viewing video cassettes with films, etc. Only sealed cassettes are allowed
- anti-Islamic literature
- military paraphernalia
- any pork products
- alcohol
- animals
- gunpowder / explosives / firearms / piercing, cutting objects and - - weapons for spearfishing.
As for "objects of religious worship", this can mean everything that can harm the official religion of the Maldives - Islam. A small decorative cross around the neck is unlikely to be considered dangerous, but a large cross with a conspicuous figure of the crucified Christ may be banned from import. The same applies to images of the Buddha: a small table figurine may not cause objections from customs officers, unlike a large and noticeable one. Surely they will seize the Bible, although they do not specifically search for this item. In any case, it is better to respect the feelings of Muslims
In the event that the above items are present in your baggage, when passing through customs control, they will be confiscated from you and placed in a special compartment at Male airport in exchange for a receipt describing the confiscated item. Upon departure from the country, you can get the seized back by presenting this receipt.
Allowed to import into the country:
- goods for personal consumption within reason (no more than one item per person);
- goods 200 cigarettes;
- 125 ml of perfumes.
It is forbidden to export from the country:
Black coral and products from it (except for souvenirs made by officially certified by the government manufacturers);
- objects and things found at the bottom of the sea.
Allowed to export from the country:
Gifts and souvenirs (shells; shark jaws; postcards, posters, shorts, T-shirts with local symbols, etc.);
- household items: thin-woven reed mats; wooden boxes; baskets woven from palm leaves;
- Coconut oil;
- jewelry.
Transport
The Maldives is a network of islands, both inhabited and uninhabited, completely surrounded by water. There are no regular transport links on the islands.
Transport in the Maldives is a boat. The only human invention capable of moving tourists, and even local residents, to a certain island. Tourists upon arrival in the Maldives can rent boats for independent movement, but before you rent a boat, do not forget to agree on a price in advance so as not to get into a conflict situation. The islands are scattered very close to each other, so the trip will not be tiring.
Almost all tourists visiting the islands come here by plane. international Airport Male is located on the island of Hulule, at a distance of 1 km (10 minutes by national boat "dhoni") from the capital of the Maldives - Male.
Due to the geography of the archipelago, most of the transportation is carried out by seaplanes, helicopters and boats. The seaplane is possible only during daylight hours according to the schedule (from 07:00 to 16:00). It should be remembered that hydroaviation does not fly to all atolls. The deHavilland Twin Otter seaplane, notable for its rugged construction and high maneuverability, also known as the DHC-6, is capable of smoothly descending and carrying up to 20 passengers. The plane sits on the water, and a boat delivers you to the pier (jet).
There are 2 air carriers in the country - Maldivian Air Taxi and Hummingbird Island Airways. The prices are quite high, it is somewhat cheaper to order a plane through the hotel administration or a travel agency. In addition, the companies offer sightseeing flights and day trips with picnics on uninhabited islands for 250 c.u. (approximately). You can take up to 20 kg of luggage with you free of charge plus 5 kg of hand luggage.
Any Maldivian island can be crossed in 1.5 - 2 hours. However, tourism in the Maldives is regulated and independent movement within the islands is not encouraged, as this may have a negative impact on traditional island communities.
If you decide to relax in full, and are not constrained by money, then a rather expensive helicopter is at your service, but you will not only quickly arrive at the required place, but also admire the Maldives from above.
You can also travel to outlying islands, but it is impossible to see everything at once. A travel permit between the atolls is required to visit islands located outside the tourist area; permits are issued by the Ministry of Atoll Management only to people who are invited by the inhabitants of those islands and atolls.
Telecommunications
Telephone communication The entire territory of the Maldives is divided into several telephone zones. The cost of a call within one zone is approximately 0.25 rufiyaa per minute, between different zones - from 0.55 to 3 rufiyaa per minute.For local and international calls, it is recommended to buy Dhiraagu calling cards (cost 30, 50, 100, 200 and 500 rufiyaas). You can buy cards in a special store "Dhiiraagu Teleshop" in Male, as well as from card sellers on any of the major islands.
There are no public telephones on a number of islands, and communication is carried out from call centers (they usually work from Sunday to Thursday from 7.30 to 20.00, on Fridays - from 14.00 to 18.00, on Saturdays - from 9.00 to 18.00), serviced by telephone operators. The cost of a call depends on the distance and is somewhat higher than from a pay phone. From 24.00 to 06.00 the cost of a call is 20% cheaper.
The Maldives also has mobile connection GSM-900 standard. Mobile phones of most standards do not work in the Maldives, but you can rent a phone at the office of the local operator "Dhiraagu". More detailed advice can be obtained from the office of your mobile operator.
Calls to Russia To call to Russia: +7 - area code - subscriber's number. Calls from Russia To call the Maldives, dial: 8 - 10 - 960 - subscriber's number. City codes Telephone code Maldives - 960. Useful Phones Useful Phones
Reference phones:
Reference telephone network - 110.
International telephone operator - 190.
The operator of communication between the atolls is 188.
Meteorological Service - 317-171.
Male Airport Information - 332-211.
Maldives Tourism Development Bureau - 323-228.
Customs Department - 322-001, 310-045.
Emergency services:
Police (rescue service) - 119.
National Security Service - 313-281.
Fire department - 118.
Ambulance - 102.
National cuisine
The cuisine is based on two fundamental ones: Arabic and Indian. Local kitchen usually includes rice, fish curry cooked with coconut milk. Limes, chili and small onions add piquancy to dishes. No dish is unthinkable without spices. An important place in cooking is occupied by sauces, their preparation is akin to the sacrament of a cook in the Maldives.
Rice is used in cooking in all variations - boiled in coconut milk, with various vegetables, peppers, all the same fish or marine arthropods, as well as with bananas, papaya, mangoes, pumpkins, sweet potatoes or breadfruit.
The local roshi bread is very popular and is usually eaten with mashuni, a fish cocktail flavored with coconut, onion, chili and lime.
The main and favorite dish for the islands - tuna with rice - may not be the same, because this time it can be seasoned with a completely different sauce.
Dishes in which fish appears as the main ingredient are very diverse, from simple boiled fish, meatballs and soups, to fish cocktails and fish pies.
Popular hikimas - dried and smoked fish. Also good is a pie with fish, coconut and onion bajiya, the most delicate fish pie coolie borkihaa (kulhi borkihaa). Also traditional fish soup and garudia rice, tuna patties with gulu coconut, baked fish with chili paste fihunu mas (fihunu mas), fried keemia fish rolls, rihaukuru fish pate, fried fish with pepper and garlic teluli mae and others
You can finish your lunch with suji, a very tasty local drink. The locals brew raa, a sweet and delicious palm juice extracted from the top of a palm tree trunk. In the heat, juices are very good, local sweet milk kiru sarbat, sweet palm juice raa, suji drink (suji) and low-alcohol drink gaa from fermented palm milk. Alcoholic drinks can only be bought in hotels, and it is advisable to drink them only indoors, otherwise you risk getting into trouble.
Dessert dish, most likely, will be coconut in any form. Areca nut (an oval nut with betel leaves, cloves and lime) is eaten in the afternoon. If you want to taste local sweets, try bondi (bondi) - white coconut sticks - very tasty! Coconut milk, various puddings, vegetable and fruit salads and pastries are widely used.
A popular drink in the Maldives is tea, which is served with milk. Another drink that you can see more often than others is coffee brewed in Arabic.
In addition to coconuts and bananas, few vegetables and fruits grow on the islands, so most of the products offered at tourist resorts are imported by the Maldives.
Institutional work
Store hours are variable. Most, especially big islands, work from 07.00-08.00 to 21.00-23.00, but in summer many shops are open from 13.00-15.00 to 18.00-20.00.
In Male, banks and exchange offices are concentrated on Marine Drive. They are open from 8.00 to 13.30, from Sunday to Thursday (as in many other Muslim countries, Friday and Saturday are days off in the Maldives).
Holidays and non-working days
Holidays in the Maldives are based on the Islamic lunar calendar. This means that every year the holidays are on different days. You will feel the festive atmosphere mainly in the capital, as on this day most shops will be closed. In other cities or regions, you will hardly feel the full grandeur of the holiday.
Usually families gather on holidays, everyone cooks food for the festive table together, decorates and organizes fun. Traditional music is playing, people are dancing, you can hear the wooden instruments and modern jazz and pop music.
Holidays:
January 1 - New Year.
January 8-10 - Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
March 15-18 - Eid al Kebir (Day of Sacrifice).
April 6 - Islamic New Year.
June 4-5 - National holiday.
June 15 - Mulud (Birthday of the Prophet).
July 26-27 - Independence Day.
November 11-12 - Republic Day.
September 1 - Huravi Day.
October 28 - Martyrs' Day.
November 3 - Victory Day.
customs and practices
Despite the fact that the Maldives, as an Islamic state, is relatively liberal, visitors to the country must carefully abide by the laws.
Rightfully considered one of the oldest states in the world, the Maldives today can tell you a lot and surprise you a lot. Here you need to constantly remember that the main religion is Islam. And so you need to adhere to the established etiquette.
The usual form of greeting for the Maldivians is a handshake, they officially greet "salaam alaikum", the word "kihenen" greet each other in an informal setting. A carefree and simple existence in harmony with nature is the Maldivian way of life.
In the Maldives, musical traditions that arose in the old days are alive. This applies to music, crafts, dances. Musically, the Maldives are unique and inimitable. You will learn that three styles of song performance have been preserved here, each of which is individual and has its own name.
You will no doubt hear about Bodu Beru. This is both a song and a dance that is performed during the holidays. Once upon a time it was brought from the African continent. Dances are also performed according to tradition, there are several different popular national dances that you will be recommended to watch. For example, Bodu Beru, a costumed dance, is danced by fifteen people, in addition, there is a singer and three drummers play.
There are dances both for women and purely for men - this is what tradition prescribes. The male-only dance, Dhandi Jehun, lasts about an hour and is performed without regard to any event. But the female dance - Boaymalaafas Neshun, reflecting a tradition that has long disappeared, but existed - bringing gifts to the Sultan. This dance is considered one of the most important and interesting dances in the Maldives.
Artistic Maldivians complement the natural beauty of exotic coral islands. Fishing for them is both leisure and profession at the same time. Especially striking is the local hospitality. This trait is passed down from generation to generation among the Maldivians. The Maldives is a place where a tourist is always a welcome guest.
Precautionary measures
Precautionary measures:
Buy water in plastic bottles.
- The Maldives is a Muslim country, therefore the laws, therefore, are appropriate, therefore, for those who like to drink, the road here is either simply closed or they must refrain from this unprofitable pleasure.
- collecting corals and, moreover, taking them out of the country is a criminal offense
- it is forbidden to break, tear live and dead corals in the ocean and near the coast, damage the shells and raise them to the surface, fish near the islands, throw any garbage on the islands, for this it is necessary to use dustbins to avoid problems
- you can not visit the capital Male and the islands where they live locals and are in beachwear
- it is also forbidden to wear things that do not cover the body from the shoulder to the knee
If you are going to the beach, regular beachwear will do. But if you ever want to visit fishing villages and the capital Male, you must respect local laws and dress modestly.
- while diving and swimming, you should pay attention to the sharp edges of coral reefs, and also do not touch marine life, they can be poisonous
Penalties apply for violations!
Mira, first you need to find India on it. This is not difficult - the peninsula on which this state is located is located in the south of Asia and has the shape of a triangle. From the southernmost point of this exotic country, it is necessary to mentally draw a line to the southwest. It is there that a large group of atolls is located - coral islands, which are called the Maldives.
Atolls are a closed or broken ring formed by a vent extinct volcano, that is, in the middle of such an "island" there is a lagoon filled with sea water.
The distance to India is approximately 700 km, it is worth noting that the atolls are located on a fairly large area, so the southernmost ones are 1,000 km away. The Maldives is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean and, due to its proximity to the equator, has a unique climate with almost constant temperature throughout the year and only two pronounced seasons - dry and rainy.
Due to their volcanic origin, the islands have a low altitude (only about two meters) and a rather poor fauna - only a few species of mammals live here. But undersea world very varied.
State of Maldives
All atolls located in this part of the Indian Ocean are united in the state of the Republic of Maldives. It is worth noting that its history began in 1965, when Britain, under whose protectorate the islands were, generously granted them independence, however, not just like that, but after violent uprisings of the population against the power of the empire.However, much remains of the British, including the name, it is a distorted Hindi word: "" - the palace and "diva" - the island. The capital of the state of the Republic of Maldives is the city of Male, which, by the way, is the only settlement that has such a status.
The Maldivians are Muslims, more specifically Sunnis. In the 12th century, a Muslim preacher landed on the islands, who founded a dynasty that ruled until the arrival of the Portuguese, the Dutch, and later the British.
How to get to the Maldives
Traveling to the Maldives will require the tourist not only to spend time and money, but also patience, because a direct flight from Moscow to the capital of Male lasts more than 8 hours. If a non-stop flight is not available for some reason, you will have to plan a route with a connection at an intermediate airport, usually Colombo in Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi in the UAE or Dubai in Saudi Arabia. In any case, it is worth considering that from Male to the desired island you will have to get to water transport or by seaplane.This question is asked by those who have already bought the long-awaited one or are just going to look for tickets and prepare for the trip. Everyone has heard about this amazing resort, the leader among the giants beach holiday, and probably have seen photos with the best beaches and hotels. The Maldives is an 8.5 hour flight from Moscow to Male. This Island state located in South Asia in the middle of the Indian Ocean near the equator. That's exactly what geographical position The Maldives and the equatorial climate provide perfect weather for a beach holiday all year round in any season.
For selection best hotel, it is worth understanding where the Maldives are located, where the capital Male and the international airport are located and where you have to go to rest. I hope I have already convinced you of the importance of understanding the geographical location of the Maldives? Then go!
The geography of the Maldives is so interesting that when you start to study it, you immediately understand why the widespread "lostness" of the Maldives is not accidental. They are so small that they are practically invisible to the eye. geographical map. And many people often do not know what the Maldives is. Some of them seriously think that this is not a whole country, but one small island (for example, as part of Chile) with magnificent beaches and hotels.
Where is Male
Male(Male) is the capital of the Republic of Maldives. Male is located in the very center of the country on a rather large and densely populated island. It is part of the North Male Atoll (Kaafu). Thousands of tourists fly daily to the Maldives at Male International Airport (its code is MLE), located on the neighboring island of Hulule.
Good to know:
- See cheap flights to Male via link →
- Ready tour to the Maldives can be found on the website
Male City is the financial, administrative and transport center of the Maldives. There are many significant cultural attractions, modern hospitals, shops, restaurants, banks and a post office.
Male Island connected to many inhabited islands in the Maldives by various modes of transport − ferry crossings, speedboats and local air travel by conventional aircraft and seaplanes.
Male on the world map
Where are the Maldives Resorts located?
Not all islands in the Maldives are inhabited. Of the nearly 1200 individual islands, only about 200 are inhabited by people or given over to resorts. The Maldives are located both south and north of the capital Male. Some of them can be reached by speedboat or ferry, while others are located so far away that tourists fly to them either by seaplane (air taxi) or regular flights of domestic airlines.
If you have already chosen your hotel, then on the map of the atolls you can understand where approximately it is located (see map). And for those who still choose, it will be interesting to keep in mind:
- The island resort closest to the airport in the Maldives is a famous hotel Kurumba. It is very popular among Russian tourists, and for good reason, because the rest there, judging by the reviews, is simply magnificent!
- The farthest island in the south where the local population lives is Gan(Addu Atoll). Maldives Airlines fly there from Male. Near the island of Gan is a magnificent resort on the equator. Who has not dreamed of relaxing right under the sun? There is such an opportunity in the Maldives. look
- a state located on a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, located south of India.
Official name of the Maldives:
Republic of Maldives.
Territory of the Maldives:
The area of the Republic of Maldives is 298 km².
Population of the Maldives:
The population of the Maldives is about 300 thousand inhabitants (298968 people).
Ethnic groups of the Maldives:
The origin of the inhabitants of the Maldives is still unknown. Modern Maldivians are a living mixture of different ethnic groups - Malay, Arab, African. Such ethnic diversity is explained by the fact that the favorable geographical position of the Maldives on trade routes made them an important transit port for highly developed civilizations (Hindu, Buddhist, etc.), whose sailors sailed in the Indian Ocean in pre-Muslim times. For some sailors, the Maldives became not a transit point, but a home - they fell in love with the beauty of these places so much that they decided to stay here forever. Therefore, the Maldivian population is represented by people from different countries world - India, Sri Lanka, Portugal, Arab and African countries.
Average life expectancy in the Maldives:
The average life expectancy in the Maldives is - 63.3 years (see Rating of countries in the world by average life expectancy).
Capital of the Maldives:
Male.
Major cities in the Maldives:
Male.
Official language of the Maldives:
Diveli (Sinalesian dialect).
Religion in the Maldives:
Sunnism (Islam is the state religion of the Maldives).
Geographic location of the Maldives:
The Maldives is an island state in southern Asia, in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, southwest of the southern tip of India, 700 km. southwest of Sri Lanka. Two almost parallel chains of islands, bordered by coral reefs, and lying at a relatively short distance from each other, stretch for 820 km. from North to South. In total, the Maldives has 1196 islands, forming 26 atolls, of which only 199 are inhabited and about 100 are open to the public.
Rivers in the Maldives:
The Maldives has been included in the Guinness Book of Records as the country with the flattest terrain: there are no hills or rivers, and none of the islands protrude from the water by more than 3 meters.
Administrative-territorial division of the Maldives:
Territorial-administrative division of the Maldives - 20 atolls and one administrative District first order (Male).
State structure of the Maldives:
The Maldives has a 1968 constitution, amended in 1972 and 1997. The head of state and executive power is the president, who governs the country with the help of a cabinet of ministers appointed and headed by him. The President is elected by the people of the Maldives for a term of five years. The general term of performance of presidential duties is not limited. All citizens of the country who have reached the age of 21 are endowed with the right to vote.
The highest legislative body of the Maldives is a unicameral parliament, the Majlis, consisting of 50 deputies:
8 deputies are appointed by the president, the rest are elected by the population - two from each of the 20 atolls and two from the capital city of Male. The term of the Majlis is 5 years. Despite the constitutional form of government, the real power in the country is held by a narrow circle of the elite.
The highest judicial authority in the Maldives is the Supreme Court.
