The country of Maldives is in the Asia continent and the latitude and longitude for the country are 4.1667 . ), total: 25.2% (2020 est. Only nine islands were reported to have escaped any flooding,[57][58] while fifty-seven islands faced serious damage to critical infrastructure, fourteen islands had to be totally evacuated, and six islands were destroyed. Conservatives in Mal ousted his government, and during a riot over food shortages, Didi was beaten by a mob and died on a nearby island. [1] Ten percent of the land, or about 26km2, is cultivated with taro, bananas, coconuts, and other fruit. Maldives is one of the many countries located on the equator which divides North Pole and South Pole. )note: data are in 2017 dollars, 0.54% (2021 est. Islands average only one to two square kilometers in area, and lie between 11.5m (3ft 3in 4ft 11in) above mean sea level. They lie across the Equator on both the Northern and Southern hemispheres of the Earth. [43] Even when Ibn Battuta visited the islands, the governor of the island of Utheemu at that time was Abd Aziz Al Mogadishawi, a Somali[44], Somalis have a legend which claims Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari as a native of Barbera, a significant trading port on the northwestern coast of Somalia. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Its more than 130 resort islands include high-end hotel brands, and its marine geography offers unique diving and water sports opportunities as well as undersea accommodations, restaurants, and spas. What coup? )subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2020 est. However, the new arrangements favoured neither the ageing Sultan nor the wily Chief Minister, but rather a young crop of British-educated reformists. On 27 November 1997 it was replaced by another Constitution assented to by then-President Maumoon. [citation needed] Composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, the atolls are situated atop a submarine ridge, 960km (600mi) long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs from north to south. Geography of the Maldives - Wikipedia measured from claimed archipelagic baselines ), urban population: 42% of total population (2023)rate of urbanization: 2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est. However, there are some significant differences in their climate. The Maldives is located closest to the country of India; the island, or "atoll," that is the furthest north lies roughly 370 miles off the tip of the Indian coast, to the southwest. It is the tiniest country in Asia, and according to a 2016 estimate, has a population of 427,756 inhabitants. [147] The reason for the outbreak was the Delta variant. This makes the Maldives the second smallest country in Asia after Macao and the 33rd smallest worldwide. [95][96], These coral reefs are home to a variety of marine ecosystems that vary from planktonic organisms to whale sharks. Non-Muslims are prohibited from becoming citizens. Since the 1970s the economy of the Maldives has developed rapidly. Its highest point, an unnamed point on Wilingili Island, is only 7.87 ft. (2.4 m); while its lowest is the Indian Ocean (0 m). Buddhist (and Hindu) temples were Mandala shaped. Its members are elected to five-year terms from Male island and from each of the 20 atoll groups into which the country is divided for administrative purposes. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Former president Nasheed won the most votes in the first round, but the Supreme Court annulled it despite the positive assessment of international election observers. [15] Fishing has historically been the dominant economic activity, and remains the largest sector by far, followed by the rapidly growing tourism industry. The Bengal Sultanate, where cowrie shells were used as legal tender, was one of the principal trading partners of the Maldives. )$13,400 (2020 est. [126] The cowry is now the symbol of the Maldives Monetary Authority. The brief operation labelled Operation Cactus, also involved the Indian Navy that assisted in capturing the freighter MV Progress Light and rescued the hostages and crew. The name Divi is very similar to Dheyvi who were the first settlers of Maldives. )subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2021 est. Where is the Maldives Located?: Map, Coordinates & Location Since most atolls have very long geographical names it is also used whenever the long name is inconvenient, for example in the atoll website names. The outline map above represents this island nation. )methane emissions: 0.14 megatons (2020 est. [38], A strong underlying layer of Dravidian and North Indian cultures survives in Maldivian society, with a clear Elu substratum in the language, which also appears in place names, kinship terms, poetry, dance, and religious beliefs. Maldives, in full Republic of Maldives, also called Maldive Islands, independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean. [89], In 2020, a three-year study at the University of Plymouth which looked at the Maldives and the Marshall Islands, found that tides move sediment to create a higher elevation, a morphological response that the researchers suggested could help low lying islands adjust to sea level rise and keep the islands habitable. [116] The Maldives enjoys close ties with Commonwealth members Seychelles and Mauritius. The northernmost atoll is about 370 miles (600 km) south-southwest of the Indian mainland, and the central area, including the capital island of Male (Male'), is about 400 miles (645 km) southwest of Sri Lanka. [1] These factors set off a rush of moisture-rich air from the Indian Ocean over the South Asia, resulting in the southwest monsoon. Maldivians seeking most types of degrees must go abroad. The ensuing decades have seen political instability, efforts at democratic reform,[13] and environmental challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels. Two years later, the United Kingdom obtained permission to reestablish its wartime RAF Gan airfield in the southernmost Addu Atoll, employing hundreds of locals. It is located about 700 km (430 mi) off the coast of mainland Asia and to the southwest of India. They can be seen next to some old mosques and are considered a part of the Maldives's cultural heritage. [49] The first reference to an Iranian origin dates to an 18th-century Persian text. Imports include consumer goods such as food (principally rice), textiles, medicines, and petroleum products. The rainy season is from May to August, and from December to March the northeast monsoon brings dry and mild winds. ), total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est. Where is Maldives located? - 'Where Is Maldives' Travel Guide The city is geographically located in the southern edge of North Mal Atoll (Kaafu Atoll). Maldives is located on the continent of Asia and has no directly bordering neighbors. Not only this, but they also act as a natural barrier against tropical storms, floods and tsunamis. South Asia | Geography, Countries, Map, & History | Britannica This, it is hypothesised, is due to a combination of liberal Islamic rules about divorce and the relatively loose marital bonds that have been identified as common in non- and semi-sedentary peoples without a history of fully developed agrarian property and kinship relations.[148]. 340km and to Sri Lanka approx. )nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est. )consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est. [120], Human rights in the Maldives is a contentious issue. Former president Abdulla Yameen was sentenced to five years in prison in November 2019 for money laundering. Since 1996, the Maldives has been the official progress monitor of the Indian Ocean Commission. [46][47] Ibn Battuta states the Maldivian king was converted by Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari. )crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est. Known for its unbeatable beauty, Maldives has some of the best beaches in the world, along with turquoise waters, a vibrant sea life and lush greeneries. Locator Map View Details Introduction Background A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887. Wiesbaden, 1983. Gan is the country's largest island and is located in the Laamu Atoll. In 2000 the college launched its first-degree programme, Bachelor of Arts. There are 187 species of coral forming the coral reefs. Content Detail. contiguous zone: The official language is an Indo-European language called Dhivehi (or Maldivian); Arabic, Hindi, and English are also spoken. Other courts are the High Court and trial courts. Known as the Republic of Maldives, the country is directly south of India and southwest of Sri Lanka. The president heads the executive branch, and appoints the cabinet which is approved by the People's Majlis (Parliament). Where is the Maldives Located on the World Map? [99], Recent scientific studies suggest that the faunistic composition can vary greatly between neighbour atolls, especially in terms of benthic fauna. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated Maldives' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Maldives. The Maldives' chain of 26 atolls stretches across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south. The Maldivian government began a largely successful economic reform programme in the 1980s, initiated by lifting import quotas and giving more opportunities to the private sector. Many people have come to think that the code-letter of the administrative atoll is its new name and that it has replaced its geographical name. In 1973, the Allied Health Services Training Centre (the forerunner of the Faculty of Health Sciences) was established by the Ministry of Health. ", The Adventures of Ibn Battuta: A Muslim Traveller of the Fourteenth Century, "Richard Bulliet History of the World to 1500 CE (Session 22) Tropical Africa and Asia", "Review: The Travels of Ibn Battutah edited by Tim Mackintosh-Smith", "BOCARRO, Antnio, 15941642? Nearly all archaeological remains in the Maldives are from Buddhist stupas and monasteries, and all artefacts found to date display characteristic Buddhist iconography. One year later the Suvadive republic was scrapped after Nasir sent gunboats from Mal with government police, and Abdulla Afif went into exile. ), municipal solid waste generated annually: 211,506 tons (2015 est. A further twenty-one resort islands were forced to close because of tsunami damage. [81] According to researchers from the University of Southampton, the Maldives are the third most endangered island nation due to flooding from climate change as a percentage of population. [59] 102 Maldivians and 6 foreigners reportedly died in the tsunami. The republic joined the Commonwealth in 1982, some 17 years after gaining independence from the United Kingdom. The Maldives remained largely unknown to tourists until the early 1970s. On 24 May 2021, the Maldives had the world's fastest-growing COVID-19 outbreak, with the highest number of infections per million people over the prior 7 and 14 days, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. After the British took possession of Ceylon in 1796, the Maldives became a British protectorate, a status formalized in 1887. The Maldives constitution, which was written in 1997, requires all citizens to be Muslim, and outrightly forbids Maldivians from following any other religion. '[41][42] Some scholars have suggested the possibility of Ibn Battuta misreading Maldive texts, and having a bias towards the North African, Maghrebi narrative of this Shaykh, instead of the East African origins account that was known as well at the time. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. The largest ethnic group is Dhivehin, i.e. The MNDF component branches are the Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Special Forces, Service Corps, Defence Intelligence Service, Military Police, Corps of Engineers, Special Protection Group, Medical Corps, Adjutant General's Corps, Coast Guard Aviation Squadron, and the Fire and Rescue Service. )7.1% (2019 est. [10][11] )services: 81% (2015 est. As president, YAMEEN weakened democratic institutions, curtailed civil liberties, jailed his political opponents, restricted the press, and exerted control over the judiciary to strengthen his hold on power and limit dissent. With . This area of the Indian Ocean, alone, houses 1,100 species of fish, 5 species of sea turtle, 21 species of whale and dolphin, 400 species of mollusc, and 83 species of echinoderms. )wine: 0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est. The research also reported that sea walls were compromising islands' ability to adjust to rising sea levels and that island drowning is an inevitable outcome for islands with coastal structures like sea walls. So that in that language, the word signifies 'four islands', while we, corrupting the name, call it Maldiva. [45] This is also seen when Ibn Battuta visited Mogadishu, he mentions that the Sultan at that time, "Abu Bakr ibn Shaikh Omar", was a Berber. A Muslim Berber from Morocco, Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari, is traditionally credited for this conversion. Although the Maldives are kept relatively pristine and little litter can be found on the islands, most waste disposal sites are often substandard. The Maldives remained a Buddhist kingdom for another 500 years after the conversion of Malabar Coast and Sindhperhaps as the southwesternmost Buddhist country. [28] The classical Persian/Arabic name for the Maldives is Dibajat. South Asia Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In the past, there was also a small Tamil population known as the Giraavaru people. It is about 750 km south from Asia's mainland, quite close to the Equator with many sunny days and clear sky. NASHEED, WAHEED, and Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom ran in the 2013 elections with YAMEEN ultimately winning the presidency after three rounds of voting. [121] The United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor claims in their 2012 report on human rights practices in the country that the most significant problems are corruption, lack of religious freedom, abuse, and unequal treatment of women. [1] Two seasons dominate Maldives' weather: the dry season associated with the winter northeast monsoon and the rainy season brought by the summer southwest monsoon. note: data are in current year dollars$4.09 billion (2019 est. Non-Muslims cannot become citizens, and the People's Majlis is prohibited from making any law that contravenes the tenets of Islam. In 2004, scientists witnessed corals regenerating. Where Is Maldives Located? - Universal Traveller What Continent is The Maldives In? - WorldAtlas The dissident journalist and activist Mohamed Nasheed founded the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in 2003 and pressured Maumoon into allowing gradual political reforms. On the other hand, uninhabited islands have mostly different kinds of bushes (mag, boshi) and mangroves (kuredi, kand) along the waterline as well as some coconut trees. The term is often used synonymously with "Indian subcontinent," though the latter term is sometimes used more restrictively to refer to Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. ), electrification - total population: 100% (2020), installed generating capacity: 545,000 kW (2020 est. [citation needed] Often the soil is highly alkaline, and a deficiency in nitrogen, potash, and iron severely limits agricultural potential. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated Maldives' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Akhbar al-Sin wa 'l-Hind (Notes on China and India), which dates from 851. The Maldives National University is one of the country's three institutions of higher education. The Maldives rejoined the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020 after showing evidence of functioning democratic processes and popular support. [36], Comparative studies of Maldivian oral, linguistic, and cultural traditions confirm that the first settlers were people from the southern shores of the neighbouring Indian subcontinent,[37] including the Giraavaru people, mentioned in ancient legends and local folklore about the establishment of the capital and kingly rule in Mal. The shortest distance from the mainland of India is 350 km and from Sri Lanka 740 km. [1] Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives. It is also a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement. All judges must be Sunni Muslims. A stretch of islands and atolls of various sizes in the Arabian Sea portion of the Indian Ocean comprise the country of Maldives. The Maldivian language, early Maldive scripts, architecture, ruling institutions, customs, and manners of the Maldivians originated at the time when the Maldives were a Buddhist kingdom.[40]. Maldives: country data and statistics - Worlddata.info Following political demonstrations in the capital Male in August 2003, GAYOOM and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. [1], The temperature of Maldives ranges between 24 and 33C (75.2 and 91.4F) throughout the year. However, it is believed that foreigners have been undercounted. In its 2011 Freedom in the World report, Freedom House declared the Maldives "Partly Free", claiming a reform process which had made headway in 2009 and 2010 had stalled. [87][88] Concerns over rising sea levels have also been expressed by Nasheed's predecessor, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Although formal businesses have seen rapid growth in the country, especially on the main islands, much of the population subsists outside the money economy on fishing, coconut collecting, and the growing of vegetables and melons, roots and tubers (cassava, sweet potatoes, and yams), and tropical fruits. ), at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2023 est. [1] Only the lush island of Fuvammulah produces fruits such as oranges and pineapples partly because the terrain of Fuvammulah sits higher than most other islands, leaving the groundwater less subject to seawater penetration. Here's the Maldives Map Where is The Maldives located? [21], The name Maldives may also derive from Sanskrit ml (garland) and dvpa (island),[22] or Maala Divaina ("Necklace Islands") in Sinhala. Where is Maldives Located? Location map of Maldives - Club Med The Maldives is Asia's smallest country. When you're looking at where is Maldives on the map, it might be easier to locate by first finding Sri Lanka. [1] However, as population grows, even in this island the cultivated areas are shrinking rapidly. Officially known as the Republic of Maldives, the tropical nation is made up of a chain of about 1,192 coral islands in the Indian Ocean. Officially the Republic of China, participates as ", This page was last edited on 28 June 2023, at 07:51. (Some sources state the highest point, Mount Villingili, as 5.1 metres or 17 feet. [3] In Addu Atoll the westernmost islands are connected by roads over the reef and the total length of the road is 14km (8.7mi). [133], Most visitors arrive at Velana International Airport, on Hulhul Island, adjacent to the capital Mal. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for Nasheed's immediate release. [103] This was the first time a single party was able to get such a high number of seats in the parliament in Maldivian history. [1] Although the humidity is relatively high, the constant sea breezes help to keep the air moving. Maldivian coir was exported to Sindh, China, Yemen, and the Persian Gulf. Malabar and Pandya seafaring culture led to the settlement of the Islands by Tamil and Malabar seafarers.[39]. lowest point: The event also raised awareness about sustainable projects that the president planned to introduce as a means of reducing the countrys carbon footprint. Maldives is also close to Sri Lanka; Male, its capital island, lies about 400 miles off the coast of Sri Lanka to the southwest. The topography of each of the islands vary from mostly sand to marshy wetlands. Construction makes up the bulk of the industrial sector. Independence from the United Kingdom came in 1965, and a presidential republic was established in 1968 with an elected People's Majlis. Where is Maldives Located? | Maldives Islands Location on World Map [12], Environment current issues: Moreover, the opening up of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Maldives for fisheries has further enhanced the growth of the fisheries sector. East Asia is politically divided into eight countries and regions: China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. It also reduces the executive powers vested under the president and strengthens the parliament. [1] Some atolls, however, consist of one large, isolated island surrounded by a steep coral beach. The airport at Male handles most international traffic, although there are other airports that serve limited international travel. It took 65 of 87 seats of the parliament. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. [29][30] The Dutch referred to the islands as the Maldivische Eilanden (pronounced [mldivis ilnd(n)]),[31] while the British anglicised the local name for the islands first to the "Maldive Islands" and later to "Maldives". The Coast Guard is also assigned to respond to the maritime distress calls and to conduct search and rescue operations in a timely manner. [127] The other islands are used entirely for economic purposes, of which tourism and agriculture are the most dominant. 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[1] Although some of the larger atolls are approximately 50km (31mi) long from north to south, and 30km (19mi) wide from east to west, no individual island is longer than eight kilometers. 2. [26][non-primary source needed], Medieval Arab travellers such as Ibn Battuta called the islands Maal Dbyt ( ) from the Arabic word maal ("palace"), which must be how the Berber traveller interpreted the local name, having been through Muslim North India, where Perso-Arabic words were introduced to the local vocabulary. The formal title of the sultan up to 1965 was, Sultan of Land and Sea, Lord of the twelve-thousand islands and Sultan of the Maldives which came with the style Highness. Where is the Maldives Located? Everything you need to know! - pickyourtrail ), total subscriptions: 706,043 (2021 est. The unicameral legislature, called the Peoples Majlis, meets at least three times per year.
