INFORMATION about the MALDIVES
Like tiny jewels scattered across the azure blue of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is an archipelago of coral islands, barely rising few feet above the sea level. Pristine white sands, sparkling blue waters and tropical sunshine all year round sums up the Maldives to those who visit these islands.
Geography: The Maldives are a group of coral atolls, 460 miles south west of Sri Lanka. It is one of the rare cases where the sea consists of most of the country. The total land area is 115 sq.km whereas the sea area is 41,500 sq.km. Geologically, the atolls lie on top of two submarine ridges that arise from a flat submarine plateau. The atolls vary in shape and size as do the islands themselves. The islands are extremely low-lying, the average being barely two metres above sea level. All the islands are coralline and there are no mountains, hills or rivers in the Maldives
Population: The population is 256,157 (1996)
History: The origins of the Maldives are to put it simply, unknown. Although there are archaeological indications that this islands might have been inhabited for over 5,000 years,
Language: The language of the Maldives is called Dhivehi. It is an indigenous language with a unique script known as "Thaana". However, English is fairly widely spoken and is used as the medium of instruction at schools.
Religion: The Maldives is a 100% Muslim country. Islam was introduced around A.D.800, and is practised moderately.
Currency :The currency is known as Maldivian Rufiyaa. There are 100 Laari's in 1 Rufiyaa Approx.. exchange rates are US $ 1 = 12 Mrf and Stirling £ 1 = 18 Mrf.
Time: GMT + 5 hours
Climate: There is very little change in the daily temperatures all year round. The average daily maximum is 30.4 Degrees Celsius and minimum is 25.4 Degrees Celsius.
Environmental Concerns
The Maldives is severely threatened by global warming and subsequent rise in sea levels. Due to the low lying nature of the islands, the average being barely 2metres above sea-level, any rise in sea levels could have a devastating effect on the Maldives. Coastal flooding, storms and coastal erosion are some of the lesser evils when compared to the total disappearance of the islands beneath the rising sea. And this is a reality that cannot be ignored.
"a mean sea level rise of 2 metres would virtually submerge the entire country ....That would be the death of a nation".
H.E. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Maldives at the UN General Assembly on the issues of environment and development, New York, December 1987)