Maldives | History, Capital, Language, Flag, Facts & Geography of Maldives
History of Maldives:
The Maldives is a nation of 1,191 islands in the Indian Ocean. People from southern India were the first to settle in the area. Over time, other peoples also came, including Muslims in the 12th century. The nation was ruled as a free Islamic sultanate beginning in 1153. This situation persisted up until 1887, when the British began to settle the region.
The Maldives gained independence from Britain in 1965. At first, the nation was governed as a sultanate, but in 1968, the sultanate was abolished and the Maldives became a republic.
Information about Maldives:
| Capital | Male |
| Population | 520,401 (Source: 2023 worldometer) |
| Major Cities | Malé, Hulhumale, Fuvahmulah, Addu City, Hithadhoo, Naifaru, Dhidhdhoo, Kulhudhuffushi City, Mahibadhoo |
| Borders | India, about 600 kilometres north-east, and Sri Lanka, about 645 kilometres north-east |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $6,189,865,408 (2022 worldometer) |
| Currency | rufiyaa (MVR) |
Flag of Maldives:
Maldives Economy Key Industries:
Maldives Major Industries: fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Maldives Agricultural Products: coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Maldives Natural Resources: fish
Maldives Major Exports: fish, clothing
Maldives Major Imports: petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, intermediate and capital goods
The Geography of Maldives:
Total Size of Maldives: 331,690 km² (source: wikipedia)
Geographical Low Point of Maldives: Indian Ocean 0 m
Geographical High Point of Maldives: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m
Climate of Maldives: Tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
General Terrain of Maldives: flat, with white sandy beaches
World Region or Continent of Maldives: Asia
Geographical Coordinates: 3 15 N, 73 00 E
The People of Maldives & Culture
Maldives Government Type: Maldivian(s)
Maldives Nationality: Maldivesan (s)
Maldives National Holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Maldives Independence: 26 July 1965 (from UK)
Maldives National Symbol: crescent moon
Maldives National Anthem or Song: Gaumee Salaam (National Salute)
Maldives Languages Spoken: Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Maldives Religions: Sunni Muslim
Interesting Facts about Maldives:
The Maldives is a fairly diverse country in terms of biological variety. Five of the seven types of marine turtles found worldwide—the loggerhead, leatherback, green, hawksbill, and Olive Ridley turtles—call it home.
The coconut tree is one of the symbols used to represent the Maldives for a good reason. Coconut trees, which are abundant throughout the island nation, provide both shade on the beaches and a solid building material for the traditional dhonis or boats.
Many people have been persuaded to assume that Buddhism is the Maldives’ official religion by a number of monuments. But that’s not the case. Islam is this renowned nation’s recognized official religion, thanks to the influence of Persian and Arab trade.
In contrast to other “white sand” beaches, which have yellowish sand, the beaches in the Maldives have true white sand. The Maldives’ beaches’ sands are composed of coralline. Other beaches frequently have quartz sand that has a golden tinge. Coralline sands are exceedingly uncommon, occurring on only 5% of beaches globally.
You have undoubtedly seen the “Boduberu,” enormous drums made of coconut wood that form the basis of traditional Maldivian music. Although modern versions are made of goatskin, these drums’ heads are made of manta ray skin. Boduberu music has a slow-starting beat and speed that quickly pick up in volume and intensity. These performances frequently have 15 performers, including three drummers, one lead vocalist, and everyone else dancing.
Shining plankton, often referred to as glow-in-the-dark phytoplankton, is a spectacular natural occurrence that takes place every night in the Maldives. The ideal time to see plankton is from mid-summer through the winter, but it can happen at any time.
The Maldives’ capital, Malé, is situated on the Male Atoll and has historically been referred to as “King’s Island,” where the royal dynasties ruled from a prominent perch.
The Maldives have a long history of trading with other nations, therefore several other languages, such as Arabic, Hindi, and English, are commonly spoken there.
The Maldives have 5% of the world’s coral reefs. Visitors from all over the world flock to this tropical paradise because of the stunning Maldivian beaches. The languages spoken in the resorts, such as French, German, Russian, and Chinese, are spoken by many locals.
The national dish of the Maldives is gulha, which is made of deep-fried pastry balls filled with smoked fish, coconut shreds, and onions.
The Maldives’ national currency is called the Maldivian Rufiyaa. Although it is usually allowed to pay in foreign currency, notably US dollars, especially in resorts.
The Maldives archipelago also has a specific natural area. Baa Atoll contains up to 75 islands that are a part of the vast Maldives Biosphere Reserve. These areas, which have outstanding marine biodiversity, have been under UNESCO protection since 2011. Due to the abundant biodiversity there, divers and snorkelers flock from all over the world to Baa Reefs. The manta ray feeding station’s location at Hanifaru Bay is very fascinating.
Muslims are the majority religion in the Maldives, where the locals are extremely traditional and orthodox. While women wear their traditional libaa, a long gown with gold and silver thread, men are dressed in sarongs with white cotton shirts.
The Maldives really get more sunlight. Thus, the temperature could be high.
The Maldives do not have any rivers either. There are two freshwater lakes in Fuvahmulah, though. The smaller, 4-foot-deeper Dhadimagu Kulhi is the larger lake, whereas the 12-foot-deep Bandaara Kulhi is.
Malé also houses the country’s oldest mosque. The Hukuru Miskiiy or Old Friday Mosque was constructed in 1656. It was built with coral stones and is a superb illustration of island architecture.
Ithaa, which means “mother of pearl,” opened its doors to foodies in 2005 and was the first to provide them a divine dining experience. It is a tiny eatery with a 16-foot depth that serves a modern menu with beautiful plating.
The Maldives consist of 26 atolls and 1190 islands, of which approximately 200 are inhabited and 110 are completely set aside for tourism and five-star resorts. As a result, traveling across the water is widespread in this nation. Who would have imagined that the Maldives would actually be like this? If you’re thinking about going to the Maldives but aren’t sure where to stay, you might want to read the blog post about Kuda Villingili Resort, one of the top resorts there.
The Maldivian administration has completely changed our earlier perception that meetings can take place anywhere with access to the right technologies. While submerged, they scheduled a cabinet meeting. Participants wore diving equipment and oxygen tanks instead of suits and ties for business. To highlight the threat of global warming and increase awareness of it, a gathering under the sea was organized.
Travelers are not permitted to drink alcohol anyplace because the nation is a Muslim one that upholds strict religious beliefs. Those who enjoy cocktails shouldn’t worry, though, as you can always get booze at your favorite hotels and resorts. In all other locations, it is strictly prohibited to consume alcohol in public.
An archipelago in the Indian Ocean called the Maldives has no land borders with any other nations. It is made up of 26 atolls, each of which is composed of a number of coral islands. The Maldives are a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean that are located southwest of Sri Lanka and India.
