Maldives location on the map. Maldives - where the amazing islands are located on the world map

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In the Indian Ocean, southwest of Ceylon, almost at the very equator, there is a coral archipelago - Maldives. It consists of twenty-six coral atolls, most of which are uninhabited. They were never part of the mainland. Simply, myriads of tiny polyps built their limestone houses on top of each other - as a result, islands were formed.

The Maldives enjoy the greatest success among newlyweds - such a combination of privacy, comfort, luxury and primitiveness at the same time does not exist, perhaps, anywhere else in the world. This is one of the few places where a miracle is possible: complete detachment from the present, immersion in a space woven from blue skies, snow-colored sand and emerald water of extraordinary transparency.

Nature and geography

The island nation of the Maldives is located in South Asia, southwest of Sri Lanka, in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. The Maldives archipelago has about 2,000 islands, forming 26 atolls, and only 202 of them are inhabited. The closest neighbors - India and Sri Lanka are located at a distance of 600 and 700 km north and south of the archipelago.

The capital of the Maldives - Male - is located on the island of Male. Time is 2 hours ahead of Moscow, and from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October - by 1 hour.

Climate of the Maldives

The Maldives has a warm tropical climate with even temperatures throughout the year (air temperature 25-30 C, water temperature 24-27 C). The optimal season for travel is from October to May.

Average monthly air temperature in the capital:

Sights of the Maldives

widely known for their resorts, each of which is a unique world surrounded by the purest golden sands. This is a place “at the edge of the world”, where there is no noise of cities and European civilization, where there is only exotic nature and endless expanses of the ocean.

Numerous underwater coral caves stretch throughout the Maldives archipelago, lush tropical vegetation creates the pristine and unique beauty of the islands.

The Maldives is a discovery for diving enthusiasts. Numerous coral caves provide interesting places for underwater exploration. Coral reefs protect coastal waters from predatory fish, so diving enthusiasts do not have to fear for their lives.

Among the attractions of the Maldives are the National Museum, Sultan Park, Singapore Bazaar, the Islamic Center and 20 picturesque mosques of the capital.

Cuisine of the Maldives and its features

Local cuisine usually includes rice, fish curry cooked with coconut milk, and flavored with lime, chili and small onions. Roshi - a local bread - is usually eaten along with mas huni - a fish cocktail flavored with coconut, onion, chilli and lime.

Among the local snacks, fihunu mas - fish baked with chili paste, keemia - fried fish rolls, and kulhi borkihaa - the most delicate fish pie are very popular. Among sweets, bondi - white coconut sticks - are very tasty.

Population, language, religion

The population of the Maldives is mainly Maldivians and Indians.

The official language is Dhivehi and belongs to the Indo-Iranian group. English is widely spoken in the capital Male and in the resorts.

The population professes Sunni Islam.

Customs regulations, visa, currency, embassies

Tourist visa for 30 days, stamped free of charge upon arrival at the airport.
Israeli passport holders are not allowed into the country. There is an airport tax of US$10 per person when departing from Hulule Airport.

Stay mode. There are no restrictions on movement. To visit one of the islands where the indigenous population lives, you must obtain special permission.

On Maldives There is no Russian embassy. You can contact the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka, Colombo. Tel. (94-1) 57-35-55, 57-49-59 (24 hours a day).

Currency. The official currency is Maldivian rufiyaa. One rufiyaa contains 100 lari. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 rufiyaa and coins in denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 lari.

Customs regulations. When passing through customs control at the airport in Male, you must present all your belongings for inspection, including hand luggage. The import of alcoholic beverages, drugs, any pornographic materials, recorded videotapes, and spearfishing weapons is prohibited.

When departing from Male, upon presentation of the appropriate receipt, you can receive back the alcoholic beverages selected at customs upon entry.

Tips for tourists

Holidays and non-working days. January 1 - New Year, January 8-10 - Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan Fast), March 15-18 - Eid al Kebir (Day of Sacrifice), April 6 - Islamic New Year, June 4-5 - National Holiday, June 15 - Mulud (Prophet's Birthday), July 26-27 - Independence Day, November 11-12 - Republic Day, September 1 - Huravi Day, October 28 - Martyrs' Day, November 3 - Victory Day.

Souvenirs. Shark jaws, handicrafts, light summer clothes, coconut oil, shells, etc. are brought as souvenirs from the Maldives.

Transport. Any Maldives island can be crossed in 1.5 - 2 hours. In the Maldives, water modes of transport predominate: the local taxi is a wooden dhoni boat with a flat roof.

Bicycles and motorcycles are the most popular types of land transport. Taxis are available to get around Male. The cost of one trip in any direction is 10 rufiyaa. In Male and other major islands you can rent a car.

Cloth. Any light clothing of your choice is acceptable. Even in deluxe hotels, most restaurants do not require you to wear evening gowns. For the beach, regular beachwear is recommended. It should be remembered that nudism and topless are prohibited in the Maldives (the exception is Kuramati Island, where topless is allowed). When visiting fishing villages and the capital Male, tourists should wear modest clothing, respecting Muslim traditions.

Behavior rules. Although the Islam practiced in the Maldives is milder than in most Arab countries, the following should not be forgotten:

• Spearfishing and unauthorized fishing are prohibited
• It is prohibited to remove corals, shells, starfish, etc. from the sea.
• Nude swimming is prohibited on all islands of the archipelago.

Mira, first you need to find India on it. This is not difficult - the peninsula on which this state is located is located in the south of Asia and has the outline of a triangle. From the southernmost point of this exotic country, you need to mentally draw a line to the southwest. It is there that there is a large group of atolls - coral islands, which are called the Maldives.

Atolls are a closed or broken ring formed by the crater of an extinct volcano, that is, in the middle of such an “island” there is a lagoon filled with sea water.

The distance to India is approximately 700 km; it is worth noting that the atolls are located over a fairly large area, so the southernmost ones are 1,000 km away. The Maldives is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean and, due to its proximity to the equator, has a unique climate with an almost constant temperature throughout the year and only two distinct seasons - dry and rainy.

Due to their volcanic origin, the islands have a low altitude above sea level (only about two meters) and a rather sparse fauna - only a few species of mammals live here. But the underwater world is very diverse.

State of Maldives

All atolls located in this part of the Indian Ocean are united into the state of the Republic of Maldives. It is worth noting that its history began in 1965, when Britain, under whose protectorate the islands were, generously granted them independence, however, not just like that, but after violent uprisings of the population against the power of the empire.

However, much remains from the British, including the name; it is a distortion of the words in Hindi: “” - palace and “diva” - island. The capital of the state of the Republic of Maldives is the city of Male; by the way, it is the only settlement with such status.

Maldivians are Muslims, or rather Sunnis. In the 12th century, a Muslim preacher landed on the islands, who founded a dynasty that ruled until the arrival of the Portuguese, Dutch, and subsequently the British.

How to get to the Maldives

Traveling to the Maldives will require a tourist not only to spend time and money, but also patience, because a direct flight from Moscow to the capital of Male lasts more than 8 hours. If a non-stop flight is unavailable for some reason, you will have to plan a route with a connection at an intermediate airport, usually Colombo in Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi in the UAE or Dubai in Saudi Arabia. In any case, it is worth considering that you will have to get from Male to the desired island by water transport or by seaplane.

The Maldives (Republic of Maldives) is a country that is geographically a chain of atolls in the Indian Ocean. To find where the Maldives are located, you need to find India on the map and draw a line from the lowest point of India to the highest point of Madagascar. On this line along the map, slightly down and to the left of the southern point of India, the capital of the Maldives, Male, will be located.

The Maldives stretches for almost 1000 km from north to south. Male is located approximately in the center of this chain.

Relatively close to the Maldives are India and Sri Lanka, 600 and 670 km respectively. But the distance from the Maldives to its nearest neighbor in the west of the Seychelles is 2230 km. The distance to Mauritius from the Maldives is 3320 km.

Visa to Maldives

When tourists first come to the Maldives, located on atolls, they have difficulty understanding where the reef is, where the lagoons are, where the inland waters are, where the ocean is. The Maldives is a completely different world, and you need to make an effort to understand it.

How atolls were formed in the Maldives

Currently, the hypothesis for the development of atolls is as follows. Under all the Maldives islands and atolls there are extinct volcanoes.

In the underwater part of the volcano, corals develop on its slopes. Volcanoes gradually go under water, and corals stretch upward. Then the volcano goes completely under water and a lagoon is formed - an internal body of water formed above an extinct volcano.

This is a simplified diagram; the Maldives atolls are very complex in structure. Those small atolls where tourists usually live are located on the edges of a large atoll and have their own shallow lagoons. In the diagram they are called resort lagoons. Also, hotels or residential communities are often located on islands that do not have their own lagoons. Islands may be located within a large lagoon, or on the ring of a large reef. Islands are created when a reef grows above the water and a layer of fertile soil is applied to it. Islands where fresh water is found become inhabited.

The reef, which has a pale blue appearance when viewed from above, lies under a thin layer of water and is often exposed at low tides. In a large lagoon the depth can reach 20-30 meters, and in shallow lagoons the water will reach waist level even at high tide.

Coral reef at low tide

Coral reef underwater

In the photo below you can see two small atolls. These are atolls formed along the edges of a reef. The island in the photo is called Thilafushi and is part of the North Male Atoll.

The same area on Yandex maps allows you to see that Thilafushi Island is located on a small atoll, which is part, figuratively speaking, a bead in the necklace of a huge atoll - North Male Atoll.

The size of North Male Atoll is 70 by 40 km. 27 islands of this atoll are given over to hotels, 8 islands are for fishing. Maldivians are forced to crowd onto patches of land. Therefore, their capital is on one island, the airport is on another, and fuel is stored on a third.

Hotels in the Maldives are most often located on the principle of one island, one hotel. The islands are very small and many of them can be easily walked around in an hour. Communication is carried out by boats to the hotels closest to the airport and by seaplanes to distant atolls.

Maldives Map

The diving diagram clearly shows that the Maldives are located on an underwater ridge, with many islands inside the atolls. On the right is a detailed map of the Maldives.

According to various estimates, the Maldives has from 1200 to 2000 islands. 1200 - if you count the islands with vegetation. Of these, 200 islands are officially inhabited. But in reality there is much more, since the 200 inhabited islands do not include hotel islands where people do not live permanently. The Maldives is a kingdom of water. 99.6% of the country's territory is occupied by water.

There are about 20 large atolls in the Maldives. There is some confusion - as there are traditional, new names and letter designations of the Maldivian atolls. Below the maps is a list of these names. The new names are nothing more than the names of letters in the Dhivehi alphabet. The northernmost atoll is designated A, and you need to look for it at the top of the map, the southernmost atoll of the Maldives is designated S and is located at the bottom of the map.

Names of atolls in the Maldives

New name for Maldives atolls	Traditional name Maldives atolls	Letter code
Haa Alifu (Haa Alif)	North Tilandumati	A
Haa Dhaalu (Haa Dhaal)	South Tilandumati	B
Shaviyani	North Miladunmadulu	C
Noonu (Nunu)	South Miladunmadulu	D
Raa (Raa)	North Maalhosmadulu	E
Baa (Baa)	South Maalhosmadulu	F
Lhaviyani	Faadhippolhu	G
Kaafu (Kaaf)	Male	H
Alify (Alif)	Ari	I
Vaavu (Vaavu)	Felidhu	J
Meemu (Meemu)	Mulakatolu	K
Faafu	Northern Nilandhe	L
Dhaalu (Dhaal)	South Nilandhe	M
Thaa (Thaa)	Kolhumadulu	N
Laamu (Laamu)	Haddhunmanti	O
Gaafu Alifu (Gaaf Alif)	North Huvadhoo	P
Gaafu Dhaalu (Gaaf Dhaal)	South Huvadhoo	Q
Gnaviyani	Fuwa Mula	R
Seenu	Addu	S



Islands of the Mediterranean Sea

The Maldives is a small island country in the Indian Ocean, located in an equatorial climate, and is one of the world's popular resorts. Its territorial possessions include about 1,200 islands, its area is 90,000 square meters. km. This state is located very low, because the atolls rise above sea level by only 1 - 2 m. The state religion in the Maldives is Islam.

The country is 700 km from Sri Lanka and 430 km from India. From Moscow to the Maldives the distance is about 6570 km. Moscow time differs from Maldivian time by only 1 hour. In summer (in Moscow -11 hours, in the Maldives 12 hours) and by 2 hours in winter. The islands of the archipelago are mostly small in size, some are tiny. Each island is protected from the wind by a shield of coral, so there is no storm on the islands, and the water is surprisingly clear and clean.

The Republic of Maldives has been considered the best resort country and tourist center for decades. There is a first-class level of tourist service here. Wealthy people from all over the world come here to relax. Because spending a vacation in the Maldives is not a cheap pleasure. Not every person can afford this. Although the locals themselves live quite modestly.

Basically, resorts and beaches are located in the north of the country, where the tourism business is well developed and guest service is at the highest level. In the south of the state, the tourism business is somewhat behind in its development. The local population, the Maldivians, lives on the remote islands of the southern part of the archipelago. On these islands, the only ones in the archipelago, vacationers can communicate with village residents, feel the national flavor, and get acquainted with its life and way of life. On other islands of the resort, it is not so easy to walk along the Maldivian village streets.

The Republic of Maldives lies in a subequatorial monsoon climate, so the weather on the islands is always good and warm, you can relax at any time of the year. The lowest air temperature is +17 C (January - February), average temperatures are from +24 to +33 C.

The climate of the Maldives is influenced by two monsoons, they divide the weather of the archipelago into two seasons. The influence of the northeast monsoon in time (January-March) coincides with the winter period in Europe. It brings sunny, dry weather, and is therefore associated with the peak tourist season in the country. The monsoon from the southwest, operating from May to December, brings precipitation and damp weather. The rains here are short-lived. Rainy period at the resort: May, November; dry and sunny - February – April.

The nature of the Maldives, as far as land areas are concerned, is rather poor and monotonous. Animals representing the above-water world are gray herons, flying foxes, hermit crabs, huge snails - Achatina. The flora of the Maldives is even poorer. Basically, lush palm and banana groves grow everywhere on the islands. Coconuts and bananas are cultivated in large quantities in the country.

But the underwater world of the ocean off the coasts of the islands is very rich and brightly colorful. Reefs, colorful algae, are inhabited by a variety of inhabitants. Here you can see over 1100 species. fish, about 145 species. crabs, almost 400 species. mollusks, up to 200 species. corals, more than 20 species of mammals.

Historical facts

About 20 centuries ago, the first settlers appeared on the previously uninhabited islands of the Indian Ocean - residents of the nearby states of Sri Lanka and India. Initially, the first religion on the islands was Buddhism. But in the 12th century it was supplanted by Islam. This religion was actively spread by the Arabs who inhabited the islands.

Since the middle of the 16th century, Portugal and Holland laid claim to the Maldives. But they failed to establish their dominance over the islands. Local residents actively prevented the invasion of foreigners.

But since 1887, the Maldives still became a colony of England. Eighty years later, in 1967, the Maldivians achieved independence from Britain. In 1968, the country became a republic with a presidential form of government.

Like all Islamic states, the Maldives is strong in religious practices and traditions. The islanders do not drink alcohol, do not sell it, and do not show off their women. But many Maldivians work as bartenders in hotels and make excellent cocktails for guests, but do not try them themselves.

Most of the country's population is engaged in the tourism business; the occupations of another part of the country's residents are related to the ocean: fishing, repairing yachts, boats and other low-paid jobs

Transport links between many of the islands are poor, so most Maldivians live isolated and scattered. Ordinary islanders live a leisurely and measured life: in the morning, in the evening - fishing with access to the ocean, during the day - relaxing in a hammock under palm trees, pursuing personal hobbies.

The working week in the Maldives lasts 5 days: starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday. During the working day, they are given 15 minutes each 5 times. time for prayer. Shops are open from 6 a.m., but sometimes from 8 to 9 a.m. Shops close at 8 p.m., some are open until 11 p.m. Banks and government institutions are open from 7.30 to 8 a.m. until 13.30.

At Maldivian resorts there is a system of restrictions and prohibitions; ignoring and violating them can lead to serious problems and troubles.

What should you not do while on a Maldivian beach?

Prohibited:

• sunbathing topless or completely naked;
• take walks around the Maldives in open clothes (very short tops and shorts);
• break off coral branches as souvenirs;
• engage in underwater hunting, fishing (equated to poaching);
• littering and drinking alcohol outside the hotel premises (heavy fines).

It would take too long to list all the resort beaches, since every island has them. Here are the most famous and ennobled resorts of the Maldives:

• island: North Male: Naladu, Banyan Tree;
• Ari Island: San, No way;
• Kunuhura Island. - Pasta Point.

In addition to these popular resorts, there are beautiful beaches on the islands of Lhaviani (swimming with turtles), Maafushi (dolphin watching), Kunfadhoo, Hadahaa, Vaadu,

Many tourists are interested in local attractions, island life and try, as part of excursion groups, to make trips and hikes to places of natural and historical monuments or to modern, interesting sites. Various hikes and excursion programs are organized for vacationers and residents of the islands of the archipelago, such as: visiting the National Museum located on the island of Male (Sultan Park), the Presidential Palace, and the Good Friday Mosque, built from coral.

A modern facility that is interesting to visit is the unique and unusual Ithaa restaurant. It is included in the list of the 10 most unusual restaurants in the world because the restaurant halls are under water. The queue for this unique establishment is usually endless, you need to book a table in advance, the cost of services is very high, but rich, wealthy tourists definitely try to visit there.

Many tourists are interested in the life of the islanders, their way of life, and national color. Excursions are organized for them with a visit to a Maldivian village, and trips on a seaplane are organized.

Seaplanes operate very noisily and their noise is constantly heard. They take tourists to the islands. A flight on such a transfer costs much more than travel on a ferry, speedboat or boat. But the beauty of nature, the coastal and oceanic landscape with all its colors and shades can be clearly seen from a bird's eye view.

These include clean white beaches, delicate azure lagoons, lush groves of palm trees, a pink oceanic sunset, when the sun quickly sinks into the ocean waters, painting them pink in different shades. All this can be seen from the air in all its glory.

Being in the cabin of a seaplane and contemplating the surrounding islands from above is an impressive and exciting adventure that will long remain one of the best memories of your vacation. Therefore, sightseeing trips on seaplanes are in great demand among tourists.

Trans Maldivian Airways organizes sea air transportation in the Maldives.

Beaches are an important natural attraction of the country. After all, the country’s tourism business, its main activity, plays a leading role in the economic and cultural development of the state. The country exists thanks to tourism. Of all the beaches, several main ones stand out:

• Fulhadhoo Island,
• Finolhu-Kanifushi Island;
• Dhigurah Island;
• Amilla-Fushi.

A special feature of these beaches is a long sand spit along which you can walk to several ocean islands. On some beaches you can swim in a bikini.

• Each island has its own types of entertainment and activities: diving, sailing, catamaran trips, snorkeling, fishing (fish are released)
• There is also a unique beach here, one of the wonders of nature - the luminous beach (Baa Atoll).
• The neon glow is especially noticeable in the period of time - June-February. The glow occurs throughout the evening and night.

There are about 427,000 people in the Maldives. They are settled on two hundred islands. Not all islands in the archipelago are inhabited. About 120 islands were allocated for tourist complexes. Each island has its own hotel, there is branded service, each hotel complex operates in a competitive environment, tries to attract more tourists to its island, and offers them the most modern service with comfort. Each hotel is built taking into account an individual approach; bright advertisements of hotels with a wide range of services are striking everywhere.

A visa is not required for tourists, but if someone comes on their own or the trip is for business, then it is necessary to prepare documents upon arrival at the airport. But the entry of Israeli citizens into the country is prohibited.

Tourists upon arrival in the Maldives receive a map of the archipelago. Famous tourist routes and interesting places are marked on it. Uninhabited islands are not marked on it. What is good for Russian vacationers is that the symbols on the map are signed in Russian.

In a Muslim state there is a unique calendar - Nikaya. According to the Maldivian calendar, the year is divided into 27 time periods, each period lasting 1 or 2 weeks. At each of these periods of time, certain weather is established in the Maldives, which has its own specific characteristics.

Evening in the Maldives begins early, at 6 o'clock, and it becomes dark very quickly, and therefore the evenings are very long. There are no discos here. Because guests need rest and peace. Upon arrival at the hotel, you need to know that the electricity voltage is only 110V and the Maldivians have special sockets - three-pin. Therefore, it is better to immediately take an adapter.

• The Maldives is a relatively safe resort. There are no animals here that pose a danger to humans. There are no poisonous reptiles or predatory animals. There aren't even dogs here.
• For children, the resort also has playgrounds, excursions and many different entertainments.
• The Maldives is a fabulous place on Earth. And the trip there remains unforgettable.

Where are the Maldives?

Their location is almost at the very equator, which means that the islands are always warm and the temperature ranges from twenty-eight to thirty degrees.

The islands have an elongated shape and, according to Wikipedia, extend 820 kilometers from north to south and 120 kilometers from west to east.

The Maldives are ordinary coral formations without mountains or volcanoes. The level of the world's oceans is rising every year, and this factor threatens to completely destroy this beautiful and tranquil place where luxurious and rich hotels are located. Scientists agree that in the next thirty to forty years the Maldives will disappear from the face of the earth and be completely submerged in the Indian Ocean.

The Maldives is quite small and the archipelago is not so easy to find on the map. They are located in the Indian Ocean, near Sri Lanka and India. In total, the islands cover about ninety thousand square kilometers, but most of this is sea. The archipelago consists of thousands of small islands, but not all of them are inhabited, and only eighty-eight are considered intended for recreation. The rest are inhabited by the indigenous people of the Maldives and tourists prefer not to visit their area.

The journey from Moscow to the Maldives is eight and a half hours.

You can stay on the paradise islands for no more than thirty days. You should know that customs will certainly check whether you comply with the rules according to which the import of the following items into the country is prohibited:

• pork
• animals
• alcohol
• pornographic products
• anti-Islamic literature

Moreover, women appearing in public places should remember that in order to avoid trouble, their clothing should be selected so that the knees and shoulders remain covered.

Despite many prohibitions that seem strange to us, but very important for local residents, this country remains a particularly attractive holiday destination due to its privacy, tranquility and beautiful landscapes.

Many tourists wonder: do they understand Russian in the Maldives and will life be difficult there without knowing English in the country? There's really nothing to be afraid of. At the airport you will be met by a Russian-speaking person representing the agency who will help you resolve any issues. In addition, in good hotels, administrators are fluent in both Russian and English.

This piece of paradise is difficult to spot on a regular world map. The island chain is located off the coast in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. Only zooming in allows you to clearly see the location of the Maldives.