Maldives

Maldives has 1,192 islets, of which 250 islands are inhabited. Maldives has an area of 298 km2 and a population of 350,000 in 2006. Become independent on 26 July 1965 from Britain. Maldives' largest industry is tourism and fishing. Islam is the official religion and open practice of all other religions are forbidden. Coconut palms is the national tree.

On the night of November 3, 1988, the Indian Air Force airlifted a parachute battalion group from Agra and flew them non-stop over 2,000 km to the Maldives. The Indian paratroopers landed at Hulule and secured the airfield and restored the Government rule at Male within hours. The brief, bloodless operation, labelled Operation Cactus, also involved the Indian Navy.

On 26 December 2004, the Maldives were devastated by a tsunami waves of 4.3 m high waves killing 108 people.

Location

The Maldives (in Asia), or Maldive Islands, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an island nation consisting of 26 atolls stretching south of India's Lakshadweep islands between Minicoy Island and the Chagos Archipelago, and about 700 km south-west of Sri Lanka in the Laccadive Sea of Indian Ocean.

Geography

The reef is composed of coral debris and living coral. In the interior of the island, more vegetation such as mangrove and banyan grow.

Capital

Male

Climate

Language

Dhivehi

Monetary Unit

Maldivian Rufiyaa (MRf)

Largest Cities

Dhidhdhoo, Kulhudhuffushi, Eydhafushi, Farukolhufunadhoo, Felidhoo, Funadhoo, Fuvammulah, Gan, Hinnavaru, Hithadhoo, Hulhumale, Kudahuvadhoo, Kulhudhuffushi, Magoodhoo, Mahibadhoo, Male, Manadhoo, Midu, Mula, Naifaru, Nolhivaranfaru, Thinadhoo, Ungoofaaru, Veymandhoo, Veymandoo, Viligili, Villingili

Places to Visit

Male (Presidental Palace), Mosque in Hulhumale, Laamu Atoll, Hulule, Bandos island resort, Kurumba Village, Goidhu

Airport

Gan International Airport, Hanimaadhoo Airport, Male International Airport, Kaadedhdhoo Airport and Kadhdhoo Airport. There are flights to Sri Lanka and Thiruvananthapuram in India. Male has 9.6 km of coral highways. Air Maldives is the National Carrier.