Geography & Culture

The flattest country in the world according to the Guardian! Resorts in the Maldives woo tourists with promises of 'the last paradise on earth'. If your idea of paradise is a pristine, tranquil tropical island with swaying palm trees, pure white beaches and brilliant turquoise lagoons, then the Maldives won't disappoint.

This group of about 1190 coral islands is also a major destination for scuba divers, who come for the fabulous reefs and the wealth of marine life; however, this is not a place for low budget backpackers or amateur anthropologists who want to travel independently and live as the locals do.

I say "about" 1190 islands because no one is sure of the exact figure - the land is so low the number of islands changes with every tide, and it depends if you count inhabited islands, uninhabited ones, or just those with vegetation on.  Lets just agree the Maldives is a "lot" of islands and the exact number doesn't matter.

Full Name - Republic of Maldives

Map - courtesy of Maplandia.com

Capital City -Male

Area

298 sq km (115 sq miles)

Population

301,475

Time Zone

GMT/UTC +5 ()

Daylight Saving Time

not in use

Languages

Divehi & English

Religion

100% Sunni Muslim (all other religions are illegal)

Currency

Officially Rufiyaa (Rf) but all tourist resorts expect payment in US dollars.

Electricity

230V 50 HzHz

Country Dialing Code

960