The Republic of Maldives is the smallest Asian country in the world. It is a collection of islands lost in the middle of the vast Indian Ocean. Every year, land plots are more and more immersed in water and, according to researchers, they will soon face serious flooding.
Due to the
melting of glaciers , the water level in the ocean is constantly rising, which may soon lead to the disaster of the Maldives. If you want to visit this truly paradise, where time seemed to stop - hurry up! Its pristine beauty will not leave anyone indifferent - snow-white sandy beaches, blue lagoons, evergreen tropical trees will forever remain in the soul of any traveler.
Where on the map of Maldives? The geographical position of the state
Maldives on the world map is difficult to find. This small country is located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Hindustan Peninsula and southwest of the island of Ceylon. Its closest neighbors are India (595 km), Sri Lanka (670 km) and the Chagos archipelago (500 km). You can see the Maldives on the map below.
The Republic of Maldives is a coral archipelago, the length of which from west to east is 130 km, and from north to south - 823 km. It consists of 1196 small islands of allegedly volcanic origin. They form a double chain of 26 atolls - large coral sections of land that look like a rupture ring. The largest and most significant are the South
Male Atoll, Daalu Atoll (Dhaalu Atoll), Mimu Atoll, Fafu Atoll (Nord Nyland), Arias Atoll. The distance between groups of
coral islands varies from 25 to 80 km.
The total land and water reef area of the Maldives is 298 square meters. km., and the total territory along with the water area - 900,000 square meters. km Of the more than 1,100 islands, only 202 are inhabited, with more than 70 of them being first-class tourist resorts.
Historical reference
Very little information has been preserved about the early history of the Republic of Maldives. It is believed that the culture of the Maldives appeared before the 5th century BC. Fragments of ceramics found during excavations suggest that the settlements of redins were founded on the islands already in 2000 BC. In 500 BC on the southern islands appeared Buddhists who arrived from about. Ceylon. This fact is confirmed by the ancient Buddhist manuscript and the head of the Buddha statue dating from the 11th century. The first Chinese sailors reached the islands of the Maldives in 412. Since 1153 - since the adoption of Islam - all the major historical events have been recorded in the history of the Sultanate.
According to numerous testimonies of sailors, for a long time the women were ruled by the Sultana women. Europeans up to the 15th century They did not know anything about the country and did not mark the Maldives on the world map until Vasco da Gama crossed the Indian Ocean. In 1507, Lorenzo de Almeida sailed to the islands, and in 1529 the Parmentier brothers. Since 1558, the Portuguese dominated the islands until a guerrilla war broke out and they were not destroyed. Further, until 1760, the Maldives were under the protection of the French, and from the middle of the 17th century. - the Dutch, and then the British. In mid-1965, after the mass popular rallies, the Maldives gained independence from Britain. In 1968, a new constitution was adopted, and the country acquired the official name - "Republic of Maldives."
State flag
The modern version of the country's main state symbol was adopted in July 1965. The Maldives flag is a red flag on which a green rectangle and a white crescent are depicted. It has a special symbolic meaning. Red color indicates the courage of heroes who without hesitation defended and will defend their country, sacrificing themselves and shedding blood. The green rectangle symbolizes the nature of the Maldives - coconut palms, which are a source of life for the indigenous population. The white crescent personifies the religiosity of the Maldivians and reflects their commitment to Islam.
Economy of the Maldives
Now the Republic of Maldives is a democratic developing state with a president at its head.
The country's economy is based on three “pillars”: tourism, shipping and fishing. Thanks to the mild climate, rich underwater world and amazingly beautiful coral reefs, crowds of tourists come here.
Tuna is
fished in the open sea, turtles are caught in lagoons and off the coast, corals, shells and natural pearls are caught.
Official banknotes. Currency exchange
The monetary unit of the Maldives is Rufia. It consists of a hundred laari. One US dollar is approximately equal to a dozen rufias. In circulation in the country there are banknotes of various denominations, including 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 rufiyas, as well as coins - 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50 lari.
You can exchange currency at any bank, airport or exchange points at the official rate. On islands remote from the capital it will be difficult to exchange, at a rather unfavorable rate. Basically, small bills are required for calculations, so stock them in sufficient quantities. Many expensive resorts accept US dollars and euros, as well as credit cards.
Demography
The population living in the archipelago is approximately 400 thousand people. Almost all of them are descendants of immigrants from the Middle East, South, Southeast Asia. The official language is called "diverhi", it is a kind of mixture of Arabic, English and Sinhala. The writing of the local dialect is based on the Arabic-Persian schedule. The indigenous population of the islands professes Islam (Sunnism). It was brought by the Arabs and spread from the 12th century. And in 1968, Islam was declared the state religion.
Capital of the Republic of Maldives
Currently, the capital of the Republic of Maldives, Male is a small city located on the adjacent islands of Vilingil and Male. Its area is only 5.8 square meters. km The population of Male is approximately 105 thousand people. You can get to the administrative, political and cultural center of the Maldives by air or sea, by boat, seaplane taxi or speedboat cruising between the islands.
You can explore all the sights of Male by walking on it on foot. When visiting the city, it is advisable to wear things that cover the body well from neck to knees. Almost all souvenir shops are located at the northern end of Chaandani Magu. Here you can buy Maldivian mats made of palm fiber, decorative fishing boats, canned fish and amazingly delicious seafood. In general, Male is not rich in attractions, although an inquisitive tourist will like the shady Jumuri-Maidan park, the National Museum in Sultans Park, the Islamic Center with the Great Friday Mosque and the Medu Ziyarat chapel.
Climate in the Maldives
The tropical monsoon climate prevails on the archipelago. All year round, the air temperature is quite high, has a small amplitude and varies between 26 ° C - 32 ° C. At night, it does not fall below 25 ° C. In winter - from November to March - northeastern, warm monsoons prevail. In summer - from June to August - southwestern, more humid winds prevail. Often at this time on the islands it rains lightly. Water temperature varies between 24 ° C - 27 ° C. In the "dry" season from November to early April, the Republic of Maldives attracts many tourists from around the world. The mild, warm climate, comfortable sea temperature, the absence of rain and strong winds make the islands so attractive for travelers.
It is interesting that in the "wet" season of the island of the Maldives, a sufficient number of tourists visit. Despite the high humidity, a large amount of precipitation and raging winds, the influx of vacationers does not subside. The fact is that from mid-April to early November, the cost of air tickets, accommodation and meals is significantly reduced, which attracts travelers who want to save money.
Flora and fauna
Famous throughout the world for its amazing variety of marine fauna and flora of the island of Maldives. The sea is full of amazing corals. Shoals of a variety of exotic fish, turtles, jellyfish, mollusks, starfish and hedgehogs, moray eels, stingrays, attract diving and snorkeling enthusiasts.
Predators also live in the waters of the Maldives - sharks with black fins and sharks with white fins, and huge ocean inhabitants swim here - hammerhead sharks and whale sharks. But they can not be afraid, because they are non-aggressive and practically harmless to divers. To prevent accidents, as well as to preserve the unique flora and fauna in the Maldives, there are strict restrictions on scuba diving. Including it is forbidden to dive to a depth of more than 30 m, it is forbidden to spend more than 60 minutes under water, each diver must have an underwater computer with him, etc. The land fauna and flora are not very diverse.
Distributed breadfruit, coconut, banana
palms, bamboo on many islands of the Maldives. Atolls - Daalu (Dhaalu) and Fafu - stand out for their lush vegetation. Exotic flowers grow here: ernandia pitcher leaves, Yerminalia kappappa, etc., there are impassable mangroves with huge ferns. There are no large animals in the Maldives, but you can meet a bat or an Indian flying fox. Also on the islands live terns, parrots, sea gulls, cormorants.
How to get to the archipelago?
The vast majority of tourists travel to the Maldives by plane. The archipelago has an international airport named after Ibrahim Nasir. It is located on Hulule Island, 2 km away. from the capital. The airport accepts flights from various cities, including Moscow, Vienna, Qatar, Kuala Lumpur, etc.
On the airport’s official website, you can find all the necessary information, including looking at the time of arrival of the planes, picking up a suitable transfer for yourself and even plan your trip. There is an ATM, a bank, a left-luggage office at the airport. For a bite to eat or a cup of coffee, go to any cafe you like. To the left of the exit from the airport building is a pier. From it every 10-15 minutes ferries leave for the capital of the country. The fare varies between 1-2 USD, depending on the time of day.
Great resorts. Maldives - a paradise for tourists
Vacationers are delivered to the surrounding atolls by small agile seaplanes or boats. North and South Male, Ari, Baa, Miimu, Laviani, Haa Alifu, Faafu, Daalu atolls are the most beautiful resorts in the country, and each of them has its own zest.
In the Maldives, there are more than 120 hotels that can simultaneously serve about 50 thousand tourists. Basically, all hotels have 4 or 5 stars, it is extremely rare to find a hotel with the worst level of service. Also in the Maldives you can settle in a magnificent bungalow and enjoy the privacy.
Recreation and entertainment
The beaches of the archipelago are clean, with pleasant white sand. Water is amazingly warm and calm. Maldives offers a respectable vacation, the absence of noise and fuss, and communication with a unique nature. For outdoor enthusiasts, there is a developed infrastructure of sports entertainment. At the resorts you can go sailing, canoeing, skiing, surfing and, of course, diving. On the beaches of the atolls, the use of alcohol, the collection and damage of corals, and spearfishing are prohibited.
It is worth noting that the use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited not only on the beaches, but also in any public places, outside the resort area. Also, topless and nude swimming is not permitted. In addition, littering is prohibited on the islands. Any violation of the order will be severely fined.
Customs in the Maldives
All travelers should familiarize themselves with the list of goods that are allowed to import and export from the country. All baggage must be inspected by customs officers. It is allowed to import cigarettes (200 pcs.), Perfume (125 ml), and consumer goods into the territory of the Republic of Maldives. It is not allowed to bring alcohol, pork, sausage, drugs and pornography. For attempting to violate the law, a fine of 500 USD is applied. Any tourist should remember that the export of products from the shell of turtles, shells of pearl oysters, black and red corals is strictly prohibited. You can not export from the country and items found in the sea. Be careful and enjoy your stay!