The Maldives

The Maldives is a chain of islands located in the Indian Ocean just southwest of India and Sri Lanka. There are 26 atolls in total. And the capital is called Male. The population of the Maldives is a total of 393 500 people. And spans over 298 square kilometers.

The currency for the Maldives is the maldivian rufiyaa. Globally, cowry shells used to be the currency around 200 A.D. and the isles were known as the money islands.

Fishing together with tourism are the nation's largest economic activities.

The largest island in the Maldives is called Gan

The Maldives is the lowest country in the world from 1.4 to 2.5 meters above sea level. Because most of the islands are coral islands which are less than 1m above sea level the UN had stated that, due to rising sea levels, the Maldives will become uninhabitable by 2100.

The Maldives have a tropical monsoon climate. There they experience two different seasons: the rainy season and the dry season associated with winter.

The average rainfall is between 254cm and 381cm per year.

Maldivian waters have 187 species of coral reefs. This area of the Indian Ocean, houses 1100 different species of fish, 5 species of sea turtles, 21 species of whales and dolphins, 400 species of molluscs, and 83 species of echinoderms. The area is also populated by a number of crustacean species: 120 copepod, 15 amphipoda, as well as more than 145 crab and 48 shrimp species. Definitely a place to go diving.

The Maldives are known for their clear blue waters and are a beautiful holiday destination.