The Maldives is probably the most remote corner of Asia, but despite this, every year hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world fly there to enjoy their holidays in this exotic paradise world. Be prepared that in the Maldives you will be met by the warm Indian Ocean with clear water (in which you will see amazingly beautiful corals), as well as snow-white sandy beaches surrounded by groves of coconut palms and fruit trees.

Geography of the Maldives

The island state of the Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, about 700 km southwest of Sri Lanka and 400 km from India. The Maldives covers the territory of 26 atolls. total area of this country, including all the islands (and there are more than a hundred of them) - 298 km.

There are no mountains in the Maldives. In general, the most high point The Maldives does not exceed 2.4 meters. Also, there are no rivers and lakes in the Maldives.

Capital

The capital of the Maldives is Male, which is now home to more than 100 thousand people. Male was built in the Middle Ages as the residence of the Maldivian sultan.

Official language of the Maldives

The official language in the Maldives is Dhivehi, belonging to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family.

Religion

The majority of the population of the Maldives are Sunni Muslims.

State structure of the Maldives

According to the current Constitution, the Maldives is a parliamentary republic. Its head is the President, who has been elected for 5 years since 2008. The President appoints the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet of Ministers.

The parliament in the Maldives is unicameral - the People's Majlis. Deputies of the Mejlis are also elected for a 5-year term (their number may vary).

Climate and weather

The climate in the Maldives is subequatorial monsoonal. There are two periods of monsoons - northeast monsoons (dry season) from November to March and southwest monsoons (rain) from June to August. In other words, the dry season in the Maldives lasts from November to April (March and April are the hottest months of the year), and the wet season lasts from May to early November.

The air temperature in the Maldives ranges from +23C to +33C, and tends closer to +30C.

Air temperature in the Maldives (average):

January - +27С
- February - +28C
- March - +29С
- April - +29C
- May - +28C
- June - +28C
- July - +28C
- August - +28C
- September - +27C
- October - +27С
- November - +27C
- December - +27C

Ocean

The shores of the Maldives are washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean. The sea temperature near the Maldives ranges from +24C to +33C, so you can swim there all year round.

History of the Maldives

The Maldives was formed 65 million years ago as a result of the eruption of underwater volcanoes. The first people in the Maldives appeared 4 thousand years ago (they were sailors sailing the Indian Ocean). The Maldives was settled by people from Sri Lanka and India, and later by Arabs.

From about the middle of the 12th century, Islam began to spread in the Maldives.

Since the middle of the 16th century, Europeans (Portuguese, Dutch and British) have made numerous attempts to colonize the Maldives. In the end, in 1887, the Maldives came under the protectorate of Great Britain.

It wasn't until 1965 that the Maldives gained independence.

culture

The culture of the inhabitants of the Maldives was greatly influenced by Indian culture, as well as Islam. Since Islam is the main religion in the Maldives, it is understandable that the locals celebrate all Muslim holidays (Eid al-Adha and Kuda Eid).

In addition, there are national holidays in the Maldives - Independence Day (July 26) and Republic Day.

Kitchen

The cuisine of the Maldives was formed under the influence of Indian and Arabic culinary traditions. The main food items are fish (mostly tuna), rice, seafood, vegetables, and of course spices (due to the proximity of Sri Lanka and India). In addition, Maldivian cuisine cannot be imagined without coconut.

Coconut is the main ingredient in most local desserts. The people of Maldives often make various sweet puddings.

The main soft drinks are tea with added milk and sugar, as well as coffee, palm juice and sweetened milk.

From fermented palm milk, the inhabitants of the Maldives make a low-alcohol drink.

If you do not like the Maldivian cuisine, then the restaurant of any local hotel will offer various international dishes.

Attractions Maldives

The Maldives is a small island nation located on 26 atolls. The largest of them is Male, whose population exceeds 100 thousand people. It is clear that there are very few attractions in the Maldives. However, in this country there are places that you should still visit.

To imagine the history of the Maldives, we recommend that tourists visit the National Museum of Male. It contains artifacts that reflect all eras of the history of the Maldives. This museum is part of the Royal Palace, built in the 17th century.

Pay attention to the Hukuru Misky Mosque in Male. It was built in 1656. The interior of the mosque is famous for its wood carvings. One of its panels was carved in the 13th century to commemorate the introduction of Islam into the country.

Cities and resorts

The largest city in the Maldives is its capital, Male, which now has a population of more than 100,000 people.

The Republic of Maldives is located on 26 small atolls. As a rule, one hotel is located on each atoll. Please note that some of the hotels specialize in spa services, combining Asian and European spa programs.

The white sandy beaches in the Maldives are considered some of the best in the world. The Maddives are literally "immersed" in corals. Therefore, tourists in those places where coral reefs come close to the shore are advised to swim in special sandals.

You should know that you can be topless on the beaches of the Maldives only on one island - Kuramathi. Drinking alcohol on the beaches is also prohibited.

The legislation of the Republic of Maldives prohibits the collection of corals and any marine fauna.

Maybe, best beach The Maldives is located on the South Ari Atoll. We are talking about Nalaguraidhoo beach. In addition, pay attention to the beaches on the islands of Banyan Tree Island, Nika and Cocoa Island.

The Maldives is considered a great place for diving. This is quite expected, given the presence in this region of a huge amount of corals and amazingly beautiful underwater world.

Souvenirs/Shopping

After a holiday in the Maldives, tourists usually bring home handicrafts, bright local fabrics, rugs with original patterns, black coral jewelry, and stamps. Make sure that the souvenirs you buy are really made in the Maldives, and not in Thailand and Indonesia.

Office Hours

But to the question: - Where are the Maldives? not everyone will be able to give the correct answer. Meanwhile, finding their location is not at all difficult. Pick up a map, find the Indian Ocean. Two parallel chains of islands, southwest of India and not far from the equator, are the coveted Maldives.

A bit of geography

Exotic coral islands stretch from north to south for 820 kilometers. The total area of ​​the Maldives is 90 thousand square kilometers, but only 298 square kilometers are allocated to land, the rest of the territory is occupied by the sea. Coral atolls unite 1192 delightful islands, of which 994 are uninhabited.

The population of the paradise country is 393 thousand people who settled on two hundred islands. About half of them hospitably host tourists from all over the world who know very well where the Maldives is located on the world map and strive to come here as often as possible. The islands are very small, a few square kilometers, so each of them has no more than one hotel. Blue transparent lagoons, amazing sandy beaches, unique vegetation and the highest level of service make the rest here delightful and unforgettable.

Weather

Where is the Maldives located? Where there is no winter. The subequatorial monsoon climate provides an average annual temperature of 24-30 degrees. From November to March, the weather here is dry, warm and the thermometer does not fall below 17 degrees. There are rains, rough seas and temperatures of 30-32 degrees. Swimming here is pleasant all year round, because the water temperature is constantly kept at the same level - 24-27 degrees.

Flora and fauna

A distinctive feature of the animal world is the complete absence of poisonous reptiles. And you can not even be afraid of a dog bite here, the keeping of these animals is prohibited at the legislative level. But enough at a short distance from the coast you can see a huge whale shark, but, as you know, giants feed only on plankton, so those who want to swim can do it without fear.

Fans of exotic fruits just need to know where the Maldives are, because there are a great many of them. The unique climate allows you not to experience a lack of vitamins all year round.

Coconuts, bananas, mangoes, papaya, pineapples delight tourists and natives with their juicy pulp. Everywhere the delicate aroma of orchids, hibiscus, roses, their diversity and color is amazing.

Tranquility, silence and complete unity with nature allow you to completely get rid of existing problems and give yourself a good rest.

The smallest capital

The city of Male is recognized as the smallest capital in the world, because it covers an area of ​​​​only 2.5 square kilometers. This is a tiny cozy town, the main attractions of which are the Great Friday Mosque with a sparkling golden dome, located in the Sultan Park, the National Museum, the Presidential Palace and the legendary burial places of the Maldivian saints. There are no noisy entertainment venues here, but you can stroll along the picturesque embankment, enjoy the floral aroma in a shady park, visit original vegetable and handicraft markets. Everything in this country is subject to the laws of nature, and it’s probably even good sometimes to take a break from the hustle and bustle of megacities in such a cozy and peaceful place.

Visa and customs control

Where the Maldives is located, those who have managed to visit this wonderful exotic corner and, for sure, will visit it again, are well aware.

To travel here, you do not need to visit consular offices -.

You can rest here for 30 days, this is the period indicated in the tourist visa, which is placed in the passport for free upon arrival in the country. At customs, they can check whether you comply with the rules by which it is prohibited to import:

• drugs;
• pork products;
• animals;
• alcohol;
• anti-Islamic literature;
• pornographic products;
• military paraphernalia.

In addition, going to exotic vacation, it should be remembered that nudism, topless are prohibited in this Muslim country, and women should not wear beachwear when visiting the capital and areas where natives live, their knees and shoulders must be covered.

Attractiveness of the Maldives

Bans and restrictions that are important for local residents and not at all burdensome for us do not detract from the merits of a holiday in this fabulous country. Now you know that the Maldives is where the transparency of the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, exotic fruits and the aroma of exquisite flowers, sprawling palm trees and flocks of colorful fish, calm silence and solitude on a small colorful island in the middle of the ocean expanse. The Maldives is a paradise on earth, a delight and bliss that you can give yourself.

"Maldives" - one name of these islands sounds like some kind of marvelous music, and in the minds of everyone there is an instant picture of a serene paradise beach. But it seems that many of us are not very clear about where exactly Maldives is located on the world map. Let me close this little gap quickly :)

The Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean very close to the equator. Almost at the equator. The easiest way to find them on the map is like this:

• India (Hindostan peninsula) - slightly lower and to the right (i.e. closer to the equator and east) -
• the large island of Sri Lanka - and now to the left (west) -
• Maldives!

The Maldives are located 700 kilometers west of Sri Lanka. The Maldives is an archipelago that consists of more than twenty atolls. An atoll in the case of the Maldives is a group of small islands of coral origin that form a ring. The islands most likely have a volcanic "history": it is believed that once there were ancient volcanoes, overgrown with coral reefs, and then they were gradually flooded by the waters of the Indian Ocean.

The coral islands that form the atolls are perfectly visible from the plane: intricate outlines, spots of turquoise lagoons on the blue surface of the ocean.

There are no large, large islands in the Maldives archipelago. Even the airport had to be built on a separate island: on the island of Male, where the capital of the republic is located, it did not fit;) Even the largest islands are no more than two kilometers long.

The position of the Maldives on the world map near the equator determines, of course, the climate. It is soft and warm here, a real tropical one. Although the sun in the Maldives is very hot, there is no unbearable 40-degree heat. The usual temperature is +28. On clear days, the sun can be a few degrees hotter. But hardly more than +33. Add to this the fresh breath of the ocean. You may not even feel the heat - but sunburn on the skin is a must if you do not use sun protection products! The tropical sun is dangerous, you can easily get burned in the water. You will sunbathe even under clouds in cloudy weather and in the shade under palm trees.

The air and water temperature practically does not change throughout the year. The Maldives has a high (approximately from October to April) and low seasons (from May to September), they differ in that it sometimes rains during the low season, and the sea can be rough. Tour operator websites claim that severe storms and tsunamis are extremely rare in the Maldives. However, for example, the island of Villivaru is now closed to the public, because the hotel that was there was destroyed by the tsunami in 2004. Of course, this is not a reason to refuse a trip, but if you are going fishing or diving in the open ocean, check the weather forecast in advance .

There are no mountains in the Maldives, no hills, no boulders and large stones, in fact there is not even soil here (that fertile layer of dark color that we are used to), there is only sand. The highest point in the Maldives is 2.4 meters. If global warming is really coming, if the glaciers are really melting and the water level in the oceans is rising, then the Maldives will disappear from the world map. And perhaps it will happen in a few decades.

The Maldives is something truly extraordinary and unforgettable! It's worth visiting at least once in your life! Of course, these are paradise islands, beautiful landscapes, absolutely delightful water, palm trees gracefully bending towards the water, soft white sand, but perhaps the most important wonders are hidden under water - this is the amazing underwater living world of the Indian Ocean! And now you can definitely find the Maldives on the map, right?)

You may also be interested in: How to have a cheap holiday in the Maldives | Dangers in the Maldives | Alcohol in the Maldives | Photo Maldives - islands and beaches

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Where are the Maldives on the map of the world and the Indian Ocean

We often hear that the best holiday It's a vacation on the islands. And you know, who rested on the islands, he will definitely confirm this. It's beautiful, gorgeous beaches, far from the "main" land, no noise, clean air ... there are a lot of advantages and advantages, but there are few islands. One of the most beloved and visited are the Maldives. On the world map, they need to be looked for in the Indian Ocean, south of India. The capital of the atolls is Male, and the population does not exceed half a million inhabitants.

Geography: where are the Maldives

As we have already written, the Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka is approximately 700 kilometers away. About the same to the coast of India.
The Republic of Maldives is a chain of 26 atolls, and they in turn consist of 1192 coral islands. Surprisingly, the Maldives is the lowest located state! The highest point is located at an altitude of about 2.4 meters above sea level. That is, in fact, any medium wave can easily flood the entire state.
The capital of the islands is the city of Male. This is generally the only city on the islands. Most of the inhabitants of the archipelago live here.

As we said, the closest neighbors are Sri Lanka and India. And then only a huge endless ocean! Almost five thousand kilometers to the coast of Africa, and even more to Australia, about seven thousand kilometers.

Climate and weather

Due to its geographical location, the Maldives is hot all year round. The air temperature ranges from +24 to +30 degrees depending on the month. The lowest temperature is recorded in winter, when at night the air can cool down to +17, and the highest temperature is in May, and it is +32 degrees.
The dry season runs from November to March and the rainy season runs from June to August.

Undersea world

The underwater world off the coast of the Maldives is very diverse. Still - it's the Indian Ocean!
More than 1100 species of fish live in coral reefs. There are five species of sea turtles, 21 species of whales and dolphins and many, many other marine inhabitants.
No wonder this place is so loved by diving enthusiasts. Any diving off the coast of the Maldives is always a beautiful adventure and incredible views. A lot of interesting and scientific videos are filmed here. There are constant expeditions. If you are going here on vacation, then at least once, but it is worth diving under the water with scuba gear.

A third of the entire economy of the islands comes from tourism, which is 28% of the total GDP of the state.
- the state sells its products for 125 million dollars, and buys other products for 1.2 billion dollars
- most of the exports are fish. This product accounts for about 70% of all sales
- any island of the Maldives can be crossed on foot for two hours
- many of the islands of the archipelago are uninhabited

- an island state in southern Asia, in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. There are more than 2000 small islands. Maritime borders lie in the Indian Ocean.

The name of the country comes from the Sanskrit dwipa - "island".

Official name: Republic of Maldives

Capital: Male

The area of ​​the land: 298 sq. km

Total population: 395 thousand people

Administrative division: The country is divided into 20 island groups.

Form of government: Republic.

Head of State: President elected for a term of 5 years.

Composition of the population: 99% are Maldivians (ethnogenesis is not completely clear), as well as Arabs and people from the African continent.

Official language: Maldivian (dhivehi). English is widely spoken in the capital Male and in the resorts.

Religion: Almost the entire population professes Sunni Islam.

Internet domain: .mv

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Phone country code: +960

Climate

Tropical marine. The temperature all year round on average does not fall below +25 C even at night. The average temperature is about +28 C all year round (daytime maximum - about +32 C, nighttime minimum - +25 C). Precipitation is about 2500 mm. per year, and most often in the form of short rains in the evening and at night. The water temperature is also constant - about + 24-27 C all year round.

The best weather conditions are observed during the "iruvai" period (from November-December to March-April, the northeast monsoon season), when the sea is calm and the weather is sunny and dry. From May to October, during the "hulhangu" season (April to October), the weather is less predictable - the southwest monsoon can bring intermittent rains, high humidity and rough seas (however, this period is the least hot). Storms and waves are most likely in June and December.

Geography

The island state of the Maldives is located 700 km. southwest of Sri Lanka, in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. 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, there are 1196 islands, forming 26 atolls, of which only 199 are inhabited and about 100 are open to the public. The total area of ​​the country is about 90 thousand square meters. km., land - only 298 sq. km.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

Forests cover no more than 3% of the area of ​​the islands. Coconut palms grow on many islands, which do not suffer from soil salinization, banana groves and a dense shrub cover, mangroves in some places, and banyan, pandanus and various thorny plants are found in the depths of the islands.

Animal world

Coastal waters abound with fish. Sea turtles are found, which for a long time were intensively exterminated by the population. Their meat and fat were used for food, and their shells were used for various handicrafts. Currently, turtles are on the verge of extinction and are protected by law. Since 1996, the Million Trees environmental protection program has been in operation. Within its framework, nurseries have been created in which seedlings are grown for further planting on the islands of the archipelago.

The traditional activities of the Maldivians are the collection of kauri shells and the cultivation of coconut palm, which gives copra, vegetable oil and palm leaves. Crops such as rice, taro, millet, corn, sweet potato, and cassava are also cultivated. Of the industries, fish processing is developed.

Attractions

The Maldives is widely known for its resort atolls, each of which is its own unique world, surrounded by the purest coral beaches and indescribably blue sea. This is a "place at the end of the world", where there is no noise of cities and annoying signs of civilization, where there is only exotic nature and endless expanses of the ocean.

Numerous underwater coral reefs and caves stretch throughout the Maldives archipelago, lush tropical vegetation emphasizes the pristine and unique beauty of the islands, and the ancient culture of the locals creates a unique setting for a secluded holiday.

Banks and currency

Maldivian rupees (rufiyaas). One rupee is equal to 100 lari. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 rupees. As well as coins of 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 lari. US dollars and major credit cards, so it is not necessary to exchange dollars for local currency upon arrival.

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). Upon departure, the remaining rupees are allowed to be exchanged back into dollars. Currency exchange can be carried out not only in a bank, but also in a number of large stores, on which a special sign hangs next to the signs of international tourist cards.

Useful information for tourists

It is forbidden to drink alcohol in public places (outside the resort area). It is recommended to drink bottled water and soft drinks. Although local water is cleaned quite thoroughly (often it is desalinated sea water), it quickly becomes unusable due to high temperatures.

Traditional Islamic norms of behavior are strong in the country, but without the slightest sign of fanaticism. The restrictions are the same as in Oman. Photography is prohibited in mosques. Mosque guards usually insist on accompanying a tourist, expecting to take a fee, but in fact the mosque can be explored on your own. Nude swimming is prohibited on all islands of the archipelago, with the exception of Kuramati Island. You can bargain in the markets and in private shops, but the size of the "discount" is usually small.

Spearfishing and unauthorized fishing are prohibited (all types of sea fishing are freely organized in hotels), it is strictly not allowed to raise corals (both living and dead), shells and other marine life from the bottom of the sea. Large fines are levied for violations. The country has one of the largest markets in the region selling shells, corals and various exotic marine animals, so you can always buy these souvenirs without violating local laws.

Tipping is not officially accepted, but unofficially, if the service really deserves it, it is customary to leave a small amount to the personally serving worker (10 dollars a week for a hotel worker or 5% for a waiter). Some resorts include a service charge on the bill (usually 10%), in which case tipping is not necessary. In the case of renting a boat or boat, the amount should be discussed in advance.