Get complete information on the land and people of Maldives

Land

The Republic of Maldives is a chain of 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, 670 kilometre south-west of Sri Lanka. Situated on the equator, they stretch 820 kilometre north to south and 120 kilometre east to west. They have a land area of 300 square kilometre.

Surrounded by barrier reefs (faros), 80% of the area is one metre or less above sea level. The highest point of 2.4 metres is an unnamed location on Wilingili Island in the Addu Atoll. The Maldives have a tropical, hot and humid climate with a dry northeast monsoon (November to March) and a rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August). In the capital, Male, the average annual rainfall is 2,130 millimetres and the average temperature is 27°C. Coral reefs support an abundance of marine life.

There are over 200 species of coral and over 1,000 species of fish, from the tiny fire goby to the harmless plankton-eating whale shark which can reach 12 metres in length. On land, there are breeding colonies of frigate birds and noddies, as well as grey heron and moor hen. Flying fox and shrew are the main mammals.

Coconut palms, breadfruit and screwpines grow profusely on many islands, although the soil lacks nutrients. There are a range of environment policies to protect fresh water resources, manage waste, and ban coral reef mining and the killing of turtles.

The entire capital island is enclosed with a three-metre sea wall to limit the impact of monsoonal storms. Trees are being planted to prevent beach erosion and sport fishing is often confined to tagging-and-releasing in order to protect the fish stocks.

People

The Maldivian cultural identity is a mix of the diverse origins, including Southern India, Sri Lanka, the Middle East and East Africa. There is a close-knit system of extended families to provide support for family members in difficulty.

Traditionally, men go out fishing during the day and women are responsible for the affairs of the family and community, often holding strong positions in government and business. The language of the Maldivians, Dhivehi, has its roots in Sanskrit. It also has strong Arabic influences, being written from right to left. Vocabulary and pronunciation vary from atoll to atoll.

Traditional crafts include stone carving, calligraphy, wooden lacquerware and woven reed mats. Traditional boats, dhonis, are built using the original designs but using modern tools, imported hardwoods instead of coconuts, and copper rivets instead of coir. Today they are powered by diesel engines rather than the triangular lateen sail which replaced square sails made of coconut fronds. Dhoni can range in size from three metres for short distances, to 10 metres for fishing, to up to 30 metres for luxury cruises. The population is Sunni Muslim and life is structured around religious observation.

There is a call to prayer five times a day. The main observations are Ramadan (30 days of fasting) and Kuda Eid (a period of morning prayer and feasting with the family and neighbours). Eid-ul Alhaa is a week of celebrations, with sports, music and dance and, for some, the pilgrimage to Mecca. The prophet’s birthday is also a day of great festivity.

The diverse origins of the Maldivian population are reflected in their cuisine. The Arabic, Indian and Sri Lankan spices and vegetables give a unique blend of flavours to the local fish, taro and sweet potatoes. Most staple foods must be imported. Most residential units throughout the country have brick walls, some of which are also plastered, and roofs made of galvanized metal sheets.

The use of coral for building has decreased since mining was banned. Some homes are still made with the local timbers. The average dwelling contains between three to six rooms. About 84% of; households have electric lighting, but firewood and oil are the primary heating and cooking fuels.