 Specks of emerald green enveloped by dazzling turquoise waters like scattered beads in the ocean; white powdery beaches, tall palms lean on towards the sea, crystalline white sands giving way to crystal clear waters, shades of turquoise blend flawlessly with deeper hues of blue; pristine coral reefs and some of the most incredible underwater life on our planet.
Rising from the deep blue of the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean are more than a thousand islands and thousands more reefs that form part of Maldives.
Hospitality has been an inherent part of Maldivian culture and a part of island life. It has always been a land where visitors are welcomed with open arms, where people are ready to share.
FAST FACTS:
Time zone: +5 hrs GMT
Capital: Male'
Noumber of Islands: 1 190
Inhabited Islands: 200
Resorts: 88
Population (2006): 298 842
Major Industries: Tourism and Fisheries
Currency: Rufiyaa
Electricity: 240 AC
Location: The Maldives consists of 1 190 islands grouped into 26 natural atolls scattered over an area of 90 000 sq. km straddling the equator between latitudes 7°6” north and 0°42” south and longitudes 72°32” and 76°46” east.
Landscape
The atolls of the Maldives are formed from coral structures. The atolls are part of a greater structure known as the Laccadives-Chagos Rodge, which streches over 2000 kilometers. The islands ate low lying with the highest point approximately eight feet above sea level. Ring shaped reef structures form the atolls and these reefs provide the natural defense against wind and wave action on these delicate islands.
Climte:
The Maldives has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round and a great deal of sunshine. The warm tropical climate results in relatively minor variations in daily temperature throughout the year. The weather is determined largely by the monsoons; the Southwest monsoon from May to November and the Northeast monsoon from December to April.
The hotest month on average is April and the coolest, December. February is the driest with with December to April being relatively dry. The Maldives is in the equatorial belt and therefore severe storms are rare.
WHO International Travel and Health
|
