The Maldives in detail
The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is a small country in South Asia, located in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. The chain of 26 atolls (islands) stretches from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south. Comprising a territory spanning roughly 298 square kilometres, the Maldives is one of the world's most geographically dispersed sovereign states as well as the smallest Asian country by land area and population. It is also a popular hub for luxury halal honeymoons and Muslim family getaway. With an average ground-level elevation of 1.5 metres above sea level, it is the world's lowest-lying country, with even its highest natural point being one of the lowest in the world, at 5.1 metres. Due to the consequent risks posed by rising sea levels, the government pledged in 2009 to make the Maldives a carbon-neutral country by 2019.
Maldives consists of atolls, coral reefs and low-lying coral islands. There are 22 geographical atolls comprising of about 1200 islands which are divided into 20 administrative units. Not all islands are inhabited. In fact only about 200 islands are inhabited. At present, there are over 132 resorts located in the different atolls.
Fun Fact: An atoll is a ring-shaped coral reef, island, or series of islets. An atoll surrounds a body of water called a lagoon. Sometimes, atolls and lagoons protect a central island. Channels between islets connect a lagoon to the ocean or the sea.
The Capital
Male is the capital of the Maldives and is a densely populated city. Known for it’s mosques and colourful buildings, apart from being the main gateway for international flights, it’s popularly visited for shopping and leisure. A must visit for Muslim travellers is the Islamic Centre (Masjid-al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Auzam) which features a mosque, a library and a distinctive gold dome. Near the harbor, a popular fish market is a favourite of the locals offering the day's fresh catch, and a produce market is stocked with local fruit.
