The Maldives archipelago consists of 26 atolls and 1192 coral islands. More than 100 islands have been turned into first-class resorts, 198 are uninhabited, and the rest are occupied by local residents. Each resort is a separate private island with excellent infrastructure, white sand beaches and palm groves. Holidays in the Maldives will appeal to avid divers, newlyweds, and families with children. If heaven on earth exists, then most likely it is here.

North Male Atoll

North Male is often referred to as the main atoll of the Maldives archipelago. Firstly, on its territory is the capital of the Republic of Maldives - the city of Male and the international airport Hulule. Secondly, in 1972, the first Maldivian hotels appeared on the islands of Kurumba and Bandos.

The atoll consists of 50 islands, of which 27 are resorts.

Proximity to the airport is one of the advantages of North Male. The road to the most remote paradises takes 20-40 minutes by seaplane and up to 4 hours by boat. It offers travelers 3, 4 and 5 star hotels with excellent service, diving schools, water sports centers, spas and other entertainment.

The prestigious O'Neill Deep Blue Open surfers tournament is held annually on the island of Lohifushi.

South Male Atoll

South Male Atoll unites 30 islands, of which 17 are luxury resorts, 10 are uninhabited and three are inhabited by local residents.

The administrative center of the atoll is located on the island of Maafushi. Kandooma Resort, popular among surfers, is also located here, off the coast of which you can catch excellent waves. The best time for surfing is the period from March to September: during this period, tours to the Maldives are cheaper.

The resorts of South Male are great for diving and snorkeling. The islands have house reefs and excellent dive sites. Near the atoll are the marine reserves Guraidho Kandu and Embudu Kandu.

It takes 45 minutes by speedboat to most resorts from Male Airport.

Baa Atoll

Baa Atoll has many advantages. First of all, it is located on the territory of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, for which divers love it. Baa's expanses of water hide magnificent coral reefs. Here you can see playful dolphins and sea turtles, admire whale sharks.

Baa is ideal for a secluded luxury getaway.

One of the best hotels in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi Resort & Spa, is located on the island of Kunfunadhoo, awarded the prestigious award from Conde Nast Traveler magazine. The hotel's own garden and orchard grows vegetables and fruits without the use of chemicals. The cuisine is varied and magnificent, a huge selection of wines. And life goes on under the motto "No news and no shoes" (No news no shoes).

Ari Atoll

Ari Atoll is one of the largest atolls in the Maldives archipelago. Its dimensions are 89 km long and 30 km wide.

The atoll consists of 70 islands, of which 28 are resorts.

Ari is perfect for snorkeling, windsurfing, water skiing and other sports. The presence of reefs and several reserves make Ari attractive for diving. Moray eels, Napoleons, giant snails, tuna, turtles and reef sharks are found in its waters. Those wishing to learn how to dive will enjoy Rangali Island, where there is a good diving center.

Lhaviyani Atoll

Laviani Atoll is one of the best places for diving and snorkeling in the Maldives. The local waters are home to colorful tropical fish, nurse sharks, angelfish and moray eels. During a dive trip, you can see the sunken ships that have managed to grow colorful corals.

Not far from the island of Kuredu, a long sandy spit formed on top of the reef. Walking along it at sunset, you can admire the luminous particles of plankton.

The road to the resorts of Laviani from Male International Airport takes 3.5 hours by speedboat.

Shaviyani Atoll and Noonu Atoll

Shaviyani Atoll is located 270 km from the capital Male and is part of the large Tiladunmati Atoll - the largest coral structure with an area of ​​1400 sq.m. For lovers of solitude and experienced divers, this is a real paradise. The islands of the Shaviani atoll are quite remote from each other, so every tourist here feels free. Night dives are organized on the island of Velidhoo, which is quite rare for the Maldives.

Nunu Atoll (Noonu) is located 150 km from Male airport and unites 71 islands.

The resorts of Nunu Atoll are especially popular among divers, who are attracted by the local Christmas Rock reef. Among its inhabitants are stingrays, moray eels, sharks and Napoleon fish.

Raa Atoll

Raa atoll or Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll is one of the northern, most visited atolls of the Maldives.

This is a true paradise for lovers.

The atoll and its infrastructure offer a variety of spa services, water and beach sports, as well as an amazing relaxing holiday away from the bustle of the world. The area, the size of almost 70 km. long and 30 km. in width, bounded by an island chain on the western side, strewn with a scattering of 88 islands, 15 of which are inhabited. The rich abundance of uninhabited and unexplored scenic islands of Raa Atoll gives travelers and tourists a fantastic opportunity to spend an unforgettable holiday in the Maldives. The atoll is located 130 km from the airport of the capital of the state, the city of Male.

Dhaalu Atoll

Dhaalu Atoll has recently been opened for tourism. The atoll is 38 km long and 23 km wide. It consists of 46 islands, many of which are uninhabited.

The main island of Dhaalu Atoll is Kudahuwadhoo Island., which has a fairly well-developed infrastructure and is home to 1,500 people. Not all islands are open to tourists, but only those located in the northern part of the atoll.

The picturesque coral reefs of the atoll are just perfect for scuba diving. In addition, there is an opportunity to practice other sports: windsurfing, sailing, volleyball, ping-pong, badminton. You can safely go fishing or fervently ride a catamaran or scooter

Seenu Atoll / Addu

Siinu Atoll is located on the equator and is the southernmost atoll in the archipelago. Siinu consists of 23 islands, of which only 6 are inhabited. Some of them are densely populated and interconnected by dams, which can be cycled through. Among them are Gan, Maradu, Hitadu and Fidu.

This corner of the Maldives archipelago is especially attractive in terms of diving. During the Second World War, these territories housed a British naval base, from which the local airport of Gan Island remained. A torpedoed British tanker attracts local underwater life and drivers.

Vaavu Atoll

Vaavu - most sparsely populated atoll Maldives archipelago. Of the 19 islands, only 5 are inhabited, where about 2,000 people live. The virgin nature and the rich underwater world attract divers and fishermen to these parts. Off the coast of Vaavu there are reef sharks, hammerhead fish, rays. Those who dream of getting big prey have a chance to catch blue marlin, tuna or sailfish.

Divers will be thrilled to explore the house reefs, including the famous Fottheyo Falhu. There are diving schools on the islands where you can get training and get a PADI certificate.

This is not a complete list of the atolls of the Maldives archipelago. Some are just beginning to open up their opportunities to tourists, for example, Daalu, Faafu, Haa Alif and others.

The Republic of Maldives is the smallest Asian country in the world. It is a collection of islands lost in the middle of the boundless Indian Ocean. Every year, land areas are more and more submerged in water, and, according to researchers, they will soon face serious flooding.

Because of the water level in the ocean is constantly rising, which may soon lead the islands of the Maldives to disaster. If you want to visit this truly paradise, where time seems to have stopped - hurry up! Its pristine beauty will not leave anyone indifferent - snow-white sandy beaches, blue lagoons, evergreen tropical trees will forever remain in the soul of any traveler.

Where is the Maldives on the map? The geographical position of the state

Finding the Maldives on a world map is quite difficult. This small country is located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Hindustan Peninsula and southwest of the island of Ceylon. Its closest neighbors are India (595 km), Sri Lanka (670 km) and the Chagos Archipelago (500 km). You can see the Maldives on the map below.

The Republic of Maldives is a coral archipelago, the length of which from west to east is 130 km, and from north to south - 823 km. It consists of 1196 small islands of presumably volcanic origin. They form a double chain of 26 atolls - large coral land areas that look like a bursting ring. The largest and most significant are the South (North Niland), Aria Atoll. The distance between groups varies from 25 to 80 km.

The total area of ​​land and water reefs of the Maldives is 298 sq. km., and the total area, together with the water area, is 900,000 sq. km. Of the more than 1,100 islands, only 202 are inhabited, more than 70 of which are first-class tourist resorts.

History reference

Very little information has been preserved about the early history of the Republic of Maldives. It is believed that the culture of the Maldives appeared before the 5th century BC. Fragments of pottery found during excavations suggested that settlements of the Redins were founded on the islands as early as 2000 BC. In 500 BC Buddhists appeared on the southern islands, who arrived from about. Ceylon. This fact is confirmed by an ancient Buddhist manuscript and the head of a Buddha statue dating from the 11th century. The first Chinese sailors reached the islands of the Maldives in 412. From 1153 - from the moment of the adoption of Islam - all major historical events were recorded in the history of the Sultanate.

According to numerous testimonies of navigators, for a long time the islands were ruled by female sultanas. Europeans up to the 15th century. knew nothing about the country and did not mark the Maldives on the world map until Vasco da Gama crossed the Indian Ocean. In 1507, Lorenzo de Almeida sailed to the islands, and in 1529, the Parmentier brothers. From 1558, the Portuguese dominated the islands until a guerrilla war broke out and they were destroyed. Further, until 1760, the Maldives were under the protection of the French, and from the middle of the 17th century. - the Dutch, and then the British. In mid-1965, after mass popular uprisings, the Maldives gained independence from Great Britain. In 1968, a new constitution was adopted, and the country acquired the official name - "Republic of Maldives".

State flag

The modern version of the main state symbol of the country was adopted in July 1965. The flag of the Maldives is a red cloth, which depicts a green rectangle and a white crescent. It has a special symbolic meaning. The red color denotes the courage of the heroes who, without hesitation, defended and will continue to defend their country, sacrificing themselves and shedding blood. The green rectangle symbolizes the nature of the Maldives - coconut palms, which are the source of life for the indigenous population. The white crescent symbolizes the religiosity of the Maldivians and reflects their adherence to Islam.

Economy of the Republic of Maldives

Now the Republic of Maldives is a democratic developing state with a president at the head.

The country's economy is based on three "pillars": tourism, navigation and fishing. Due to the mild climate, rich underwater world and amazingly beautiful coral reefs, crowds of tourists come here. In the open sea, it is carried out in lagoons and turtles are caught near the coast, corals, shells and natural pearls are mined.

Official banknotes. Currency exchange

The monetary unit of the Maldives is the rufiyaa. It consists of one hundred laari. One US dollar is approximately equal to a dozen rufiyaas. In circulation in the country there are banknotes of various denominations, including 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 rufiyaas, as well as coins - 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50 lari.

You can exchange currency at any bank, airport or exchange points at the official rate. It will be difficult to make an exchange on islands remote from the capital, at a rather unfavorable rate. Basically, small bills are required for calculations, so stock up on them in sufficient quantities. Many expensive resorts accept US dollars and euros for payment, as well as credit cards.

Demography

The population living in the archipelago is approximately 400 thousand people. Almost all of them are descendants of immigrants from the Middle East, South, Southeast Asia. The state language is called Dhivehi, it is a kind of mixture of Arabic, English and Sinhala. The writing of the local dialect is based on the Arabic-Persian script. The indigenous population of the islands professes Islam (Sunnism). It was brought by the Arabs and spread from the 12th century. And in 1968 Islam was declared the state religion.

Capital of the Republic of Maldives

Currently, Male is the capital of the Republic of Maldives, a small city located on the adjacent islands of Vilingile and Male. Its area is only 5.8 square meters. km. The population of Male is approximately 105 thousand people. You can get to the administrative, political and cultural center of the Maldives by air or sea, by boats, seaplane taxis or speedboats plying between the islands.

You can see all the sights of Male by walking along it. When visiting the city, it is advisable to wear things that cover the body well from neck to knees. Almost all souvenir shops are located at the northern end of Chaandani Magu. Here you can buy Maldivian mats made of palm fiber, decorative fishing boats, canned fish and amazingly delicious seafood. In general, Male is not rich in attractions, although the inquisitive tourist will like the shady Jumuri-Maidan park, the National Museum in Sultans Park, the Islamic Center with the Good Friday Mosque and the Medu Ziyarat chapel.

Climate in the Maldives

The archipelago has a tropical monsoon climate. All year round the air temperature is quite high, has a small amplitude and varies between 26°C - 32°C. At night it does not fall below 25°C. In winter - from November to March - the northeast, warm monsoons prevail. In summer - from June to August - southwestern, more humid winds prevail. It often rains a little at this time on the islands. The water temperature varies between 24°C - 27°C. In the "dry" season from November to early April, the Republic of Maldives attracts numerous tourists from all over the world. The mild, warm climate, comfortable sea temperature, lack of rain and strong winds make the islands so attractive to travelers.

It is interesting that a sufficient number of tourists visit the islands of the Maldives during the "wet" season. Despite the high humidity, a large amount of precipitation and raging winds, the influx of tourists does not subside. The fact is that from mid-April to early November, the cost of air tickets, accommodation and meals is significantly reduced, which attracts travelers who want to save money.

Flora and fauna

Famous throughout the world for its amazing variety of marine fauna and flora of the islands of the Maldives. The sea is full of amazing corals. Shoals of various exotic fish, turtles, jellyfish, molluscs, starfish and hedgehogs, moray eels, rays attract diving and snorkeling enthusiasts.

Predators also live in the waters of the Maldives - black-finned sharks and white-finned sharks, and huge ocean inhabitants - hammerhead sharks and whale sharks - swim here. But you can not be afraid of them, because they are non-aggressive and practically harmless to divers. To prevent accidents, as well as to preserve the unique flora and fauna in the Maldives, there are strict scuba diving restrictions. Including it is forbidden to dive to a depth of more than 30 m, it is forbidden to spend more than 60 minutes underwater, each diver must have a dive computer with him, etc. Land fauna and flora are not very diverse.

Breadfruit, coconut, banana are common on many islands of the Maldives. Atolls - Daalu (Dhaalu) and Fafu - stand out for their lush vegetation. Exotic flowers grow here: hernandia lily, erminalia catappa, etc., there are impenetrable mangroves with huge ferns. There are no large animals in the Maldives, but you can meet a bat or an Indian flying fox. Terns, parrots, sea gulls, cormorants also live on the islands.

How to get to the archipelago?

The vast majority of tourists get to the Maldives by plane. The archipelago has an international airport named after Ibrahim Nasir. It is located on Hulule Island, 2 km. from the capital. The airport receives flights from different cities, including Moscow, Vienna, Qatar, Kuala Lumpur, etc.

On the official website of the airport, you can find all the necessary information, including seeing the time of arrival of the aircraft, choosing the right transfer for yourself, and even planning your trip. There is an ATM, a bank, a left-luggage office on the territory of the airport. You can have a snack or drink coffee in any of the cafes you like. To the left of the exit from the airport building is the pier. Ferries depart from it every 10-15 minutes to the capital of the country. The fare varies between 1-2 USD, depending on the time of day.

Great resorts. Maldives - a paradise for tourists

Vacationers are delivered to the surrounding atolls by small nimble seaplanes or boats. North and South Male, Ari, Baa, Miimu, Laviani, Haa Alifu, Faafu, Dhaalu atolls are the most beautiful resorts in the country, and each of them has its own zest.

More than 120 hotels operate in the Maldives, which can simultaneously serve about 50 thousand tourists. Basically, all hotels have 4 or 5 stars, it is extremely rare to find a hotel with a worse level of service. Also in the Maldives, you can stay in a magnificent bungalow and enjoy solitude.

Recreation and entertainment

The beaches of the archipelago are the cleanest, with pleasant white sand. The water is amazingly warm and calm. The Maldives offer a respectable holiday, lack of noise and fuss and communication with the unique nature. For fans of outdoor activities there is a developed infrastructure of sports entertainment. At the resorts you can go sailing, canoeing, skiing, surfing and, of course, diving. On the beaches of the atolls, it is forbidden to drink alcohol, collect and damage corals, spearfishing.

It should be noted that the use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited not only on the beaches, but also in any public places outside the resort area. Topless and nude swimming is also not allowed. In addition, it is forbidden to litter on the islands. Any violation of the order will result in a severe fine.

Customs in the Maldives

All travelers should familiarize themselves in advance with the list of goods that are allowed to be imported and exported from the country. All luggage must be inspected by customs officers. It is allowed to import cigarettes (200 pcs.), Perfume (125 ml), personal consumption goods into the territory of the Republic of Maldives. It is not allowed to bring alcoholic drinks, pork, sausage, drugs and pornography. An attempt to violate the law is subject to a fine of 500 USD. Any tourist should remember that the export of products made from tortoise shells, pearl oyster shells, black and red corals is strictly prohibited. You can not export from the country and items found in the sea. Be careful and enjoy your holiday!

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Where are the Maldives on the map of the world and the Indian Ocean

We often hear that the best vacation is a vacation on the islands. And you know, who rested on the islands, he will definitely confirm this. It's beautiful, gorgeous beaches, far from the "main" land, no noise, clean air ... there are a lot of advantages and advantages, but there are few islands. One of the most beloved and visited are the Maldives. On the world map, they need to be looked for in the Indian Ocean, south of India. The capital of the atolls is Male, and the population does not exceed half a million inhabitants.

Geography: where are the Maldives

As we have already written, the Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka is approximately 700 kilometers away. About the same to the coast of India.
The Republic of Maldives is a chain of 26 atolls, and they in turn consist of 1192 coral islands. Surprisingly, the Maldives is the lowest located state! The highest point is located at an altitude of about 2.4 meters above sea level. That is, in fact, any medium wave can easily flood the entire state.
The capital of the islands is the city of Male. This is generally the only city on the islands. Most of the inhabitants of the archipelago live here.

As we said, the closest neighbors are Sri Lanka and India. And then only a huge endless ocean! Almost five thousand kilometers to the coast of Africa, and even more to Australia, about seven thousand kilometers.

Climate and weather

Due to its geographical location, the Maldives is hot all year round. The air temperature ranges from +24 to +30 degrees depending on the month. The lowest temperature is recorded in winter, when at night the air can cool down to +17, and the highest temperature is in May, and it is +32 degrees.
The dry season runs from November to March and the rainy season runs from June to August.

Undersea world

The underwater world off the coast of the Maldives is very diverse. Still - it's the Indian Ocean!
More than 1100 species of fish live in coral reefs. There are five species of sea turtles, 21 species of whales and dolphins and many, many other marine inhabitants.
No wonder this place is so loved by diving enthusiasts. Any diving off the coast of the Maldives is always a beautiful adventure and incredible views. A lot of interesting and scientific videos are filmed here. There are constant expeditions. If you are going here on vacation, then at least once, but it is worth diving under the water with scuba gear.

A third of the entire economy of the islands comes from tourism, which is 28% of the total GDP of the state.
- the state sells its products for 125 million dollars, and buys other products for 1.2 billion dollars
- most of the exports are fish. This product accounts for about 70% of all sales
- any island of the Maldives can be crossed on foot for two hours
- many of the islands of the archipelago are uninhabited

Where is the Maldives located on the world map? The Republic of Maldives is located in South Asia and located on a group of several atolls in the Indian Ocean. The capital of the Maldives is Male.

Regarding the flight to these islands, we can definitely say that the flight time to the Maldives from Moscow is not the longest when compared to other tourist destinations for recreation and travel.

On a detailed map of the Maldives, we can see that the republic is located in equatorial waters, about 700 kilometers from Sri Lanka. This is a chain of twenty atolls, which in turn consist of 1192 small coral islands. The highest point of the Maldvi is located on the southern Addu Atoll (only 2.4 meters above sea level). Not a single island in the Maldives has rivers and lakes.

A detailed map of the Maldives in Russian can be downloaded on Google and you can see that tourism is the main industry of the republic, since there are a large number of private islands, where the hotel is located, which is the property of the island, and where only tourists and staff live. Guest houses are located in places where the local population lives. The very first resorts appeared on the island of Bandos and in the village of Kurumba.

Tourists who decide to enjoy the exotic, romance, serene happiness, bird trills, the aroma of tropical flowers, think about where they are. The best time to visit the islands: the beginning of winter - the beginning of spring, which cannot be said about May-October, when tropical rains “attack” the Maldives. Despite them, the tourist flow here is not reduced, because the air here is always warmed up to at least + 28-30˚C.

Maldives: where are these tropical islands located?

The location of the Maldives (the capital is Male) is South Asia. They are located in the Indian Ocean, on 20 atolls (Kaafu, Haa Alif, Raa, Meemu, Baa, Dhaalu, Vaavu, Thaa and others), consisting of more than 1000 islets of coral origin, which are far from all inhabited (88 of them are resort places, and the local population lives on 200) and slightly rose above the ocean level. The highest point of the Maldives archipelago is 2.4 m (Addu Atoll).

The area of ​​the Maldives is 90,000 sq. km (of which about 300 sq. km are occupied by land). Of the nearest neighbors of the Maldives, and stand out, the distance to which is 670 km and 600 km, respectively.

How to get to the Maldives?

Russians can take a direct flight -: on board the Airbus A330-200, owned by Aeroflot, they will spend 9 hours. Those who wish can make a transfer at the airport, or (connection takes at least 3-5 hours) - you can familiarize yourself with the options for connecting flights on the website of Srilankan Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways. For those who live in, it is advisable to fly to the Maldives by making a stop, for example, at (Malaysia Airlines + Air Astana).

It is worth considering that if the airport tax was not included in the ticket price, those leaving the country will have to pay $10.

Holidays in the Maldives

On the South Male Atoll, the Kanduma resort stands out, delighting surfers with good waves in May-September. Diving on this atoll can be done at the Guraidhoo corner sites (there are eagle rays, tuna, barracudas, gray and white-finned sharks), Kandooma Thila (famous for grottoes, as well as a variety of underwater inhabitants who have chosen part of the reef in the west) and others.

Those who decide to go scuba diving in Ari Atoll will meet moray eels, parrot fish, reef sharks, and Napoleon fish.

North Male Atoll is interesting for the capital located here, where you can admire the Muliage Palace, see the Medu Ziyarat Chapel, the old Friday Mosque and the Hukuru Mosque, and also spend time in Sultans Park.

Baa Atoll attracts divers who are offered to check in at the Reethi Beach Resort (dolphins splash around the hotel).

Those wishing to go to Addu Atoll to watch exotic birds that fly to the local lake for wintering in October-March. Another interesting place is the island of Gan, whose guests prefer to make water safaris, engage in night and morning fishing, as well as windsurfing. As for divers, interesting underwater inhabitants and the British Loyalty tanker, located at a depth of 30 meters, await them on the Addu Atoll.

Maldivian beaches

• Artificial Beach: water activities are available here and conditions for swimming are created, as well as street dancers and musicians give their “concerts”.
• Conrad Rangali Beach: Those who come to this beach bathe in clear water and bask on the white sand surrounded by tropical greenery.
• Cocoa Island Beach: There you can stay in one of the villas located by the ocean and enjoy a carefree vacation, snorkeling and diving.

Souvenirs from the Maldives

In the Maldives, you should buy memorable souvenirs in the form of coconut sausage, national dresses with embroidery decorating the neck, wicker mats, shark jaws, coconut oil, black lacquered boxes, colorful shells, miniature fishing boats.