|
Enjoy the
white sandy beaches |
Go
for a boat ride |
View the
beautiful islands by sea plane |
|
Go for deep
sea diving |
Enjoy visiting different islands
|
Rest at
the water bungalows |
|
|
|
|
|
View island pictures |
Some beautiful Pictures of Maldives |
View underwater pictures |
|
|
Facts and
Figures |
|
|
Land
Area : |
1,190 islands
with a land area of 115 square miles (298 sq. km) |
|
Sea
Area : |
Approx.
41,500 square miles (107,500 sq. km) |
|
Geographical Location : |
Indian Ocean (Exclusively
coral island atolls.) |
|
Immediate Neighbours : |
India and Sri Lanka
(both located northeast of Maldives)
The Shortest
distance from the mainland of India is 217 miles (350 km) and
from Sri Lanka 460 miles (740 km). |
|
Latitude : |
07 degrees 06' 30"
N to 00 degrees 41'48" S |
|
Longitude : |
72 degrees 32'30" E
to 73 degrees 45'54" E |
|
Climate : |
The climate
is influenced by the monsoon winds blowing across the Indian
Ocean. The monsoon type brings two major climatic variations to
the Maldives. The South-west monsoon extends from May to
October and brings more rain accompanied by wind. The
North-east monsoon extends from November to April and is
drier and brings less wind. Being an equatorial country, the
Maldives has abundant sunshine and an average temperature of 28
degrees Celsius. Convection air currents bring huge downpours
occasionally. The relative humidity ranges from 73% to 85%. |
|
Status : |
Republic |
|
Population : |
2,70,000 (1998
official estimate) |
|
Capital : |
Malé (Area: 1.77
sq.kms) |
|
International Airport : |
Malé International
Airport on Hulhulé Island, two kilometeres east of Malé
|
|
Domestic Airports : |
Gan Airport,
Hanimaadhoo Airport, Kadhdhoo Airport and Kaadedhdhoo Airport |
|
Maldives Standard Time : |
+5 hrs GMT |
|
Religion : |
Islam (100 percent
Sunni Muslims -
Islam was
introduced around A.D.800, and the moderate form practiced in
Maldives has remained virtually unchanged.) |
|
Languages : |
Dhivehi is the
national language.
The script
is called "Thaana".
English is widely spoken in the government offices, business sectors and the main taught
language at schools. |
|
Literacy Rate : |
98.2 percent (Age
group 10-45 yrs) |
|
Temperature : |
30.4 degrees C
(Mean Max) -
25.4 degrees C (Mean Min) |
|
Average Annual Rainfall : |
1948.2mm |
|
Electricity : |
220 - 240 volts |
|
Currency : |
Maldivian Rufiyaa
(1 US$ = Rf 12.85) |
|
Political Status : |
Since 1965,
an Independent republic with a democratically elected
parliament. President is the head of the government, elected
every 5 years. |
|
Working Hours : |
Banks : 8 am - 1.30 pm (Sun to
Thu), Government Offices : 7.30 am - 2.30 pm (Sun to Thu), Fri
and Sat holidays. Private Offices: Open between 8 am and 10 am
and close between 6 pm and 8 pm, with a lunch break in between. |
|
Credit Cards : |
American Express,
Diners Club, Euro card, JCB, MasterCard, Visa |
|
Major
Industries : |
Tourism, fish
canning, manufacture of garments, boat building, and handicrafts. |
|
National Flag : |
|
 |
The
colours red, green and white characterize the Maldivian
National flag: The green rectangle, which represents the
innumerable palm trees, the life source of the islands, is
surrounded by red, the blood of the nation’s heroes in
sacrifice, and is dominated by a white crescent in the
centre - the symbol of Islamic faith. |
|
|
National Emblem : |
|
 |
The
crescent, a star, a coconut palm, two national flags and a
banner with the traditional title of the state “ Ad
Dawlat, Al Mahaldheebiyya” (“The State of the
Maldives”) represent the National emblem used on
government documents.
|
|
|
National Anthem : |
|
|
National Tree : |
|
Coconut
Palm (Cocos nucifera) |
Maldivians have done the beneficial coconut palm justice by
declaring it the National Tree in 1985. All parts of it can
and are used; there is no waste. Its branches are used as
material for the roofs, giving them their thatch-like
appearance and for brooms, essential for the daily sweeping
of the roads and yards. On special occasions you can admire
huge fish or other objects and decorations made out of these
branches - an art form in itself.
The fruit itself is an essential part of Maldivian cuisine,
the juice of a young fruit “kurumba”, is a delicious,
refreshing drink, the ripe coconut is used with dried fish,
in short eats or as coconut milk.
Coconut shells are a good source of fuel keeping a fire
burning for a long time and on the islands you can still
find specially made irons heated by these shells. |
|
|
National Flower : |
|
|
Clothing : |
Light weight
cottons and linens. |
|
Shopping : |
The capital Malé
being the centre of commercial activity is the ideal place to
shop. Shops open between 7.30 and 9.30 am, closing at 11.pm. On
Fridays they open at 1.30 pm, closing as usual. All shops close
for 15 minutes at every prayer time. |
|
Festivals and ceremonies : |
Big Eid, Small Eid, Birth and
Circumcision. |
|
Maldivian Dances : |
The
folk dance and music, which
we see and hear today, are only art of the wider range of music
played by the old Maldivians. |
