Republic of Maldives

The Republic of Maldives is a group of coral reef islands located in the Indian Ocean, close to Sri Lanka. The country boasts beautiful white sand beaches and a peaceful Islamic history.

Geography

The Republic of Maldives, also known as the Maldive Islands, comprises a group of 26 atolls, or coral reefs that circle to form lagoons. These bits of land make up an area in the Indian ocean that is approximately 90,000 square kilometers, or about a quarter of the size of Germany. The coral reefs that make up the land mass of the Maldives are home to a variety of marine species, including some fish species that are new to science.

History

The Maldive Islands were probably first inhabited by fisherman from the south of what is now India in the period from 300 BC to 300 AD. The first written record of the Maldives comes from the ancient city of Sinhapura when its prince and his crew landed in Sri Lanka and some of the islands of the Maldives in 483 BCE. The ancient natives practiced Buddhism until the 12th century BC when an Islamic prince came to the islands and converted the people. The Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887 and remained so until 1965 when the country was granted full political independence. In 1968, the island country became a republic after some years as an Islamic sultanate. In the early 2000s, the people revolted against a one-party leadership, and the Maldives now has a democratic, multi-party government.

Visiting the Maldives

Tourism is the country's largest source of income. Many people choose to visit the Republic of Maldive because of its unique beauty. Visitors fly into the capital city of Male, and continue to the white sand beaches, fishing destinations or surfing havens.

The Republic of Maldives has a rich history of friendliness and beautiful land to explore. With teeming coral reefs and over 1190 islands, this country is one of the most unique places in the world.