Flag of Maldives
Where is Maldives ?
it between 7° 6′ 35″ and 0° 42′ 24″ south and between 72° 33′ 19″ and 73° 46′ 13″ east of Greenwich
Area:
118, 000 sq km (land = 298 sq km)
The seven provinces : Upper North Province, North Province, North
Central Province, Central Province, South Central Province, Upper South
Province and South Province. With two cities. They are Male’ and Addu.
The Maldives has 1,192 islands (inhabited = 199; uninhabited = 993) – out of which 87 are exclusive resort islands. The islands are grouped into 26 natural atolls – divided into 20 for administrative purposes
The Maldives has 26 naturally occurring atolls which are divided into 20 administrative ones:
1. Haa Alifu Atoll – (Thiladhunmathee Uthuruburi)
2. Haa Dhaalu Atoll – (Thiladhunmathee Dhekunuburi)
3. Shaviyani Atoll – (Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi)
4. Noonu Atoll – (Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi)
5. Raa Atoll – (Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi)
6. Baa Atoll – (Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi)
7. Lhaviyani Atoll – (Faadhippolhu)
8. Kaafu Atoll – (Malé Atholhu)
9. Alif Alif Atoll – (Ari Atholhu Uthuruburi)
10. Alif Dhaalu Atoll – (Ari Atholhu Dhekunuburi)
11. Vaavu Atoll – (Felidhe Atholhu)
12. Meemu Atoll – (Mulaku Atholhu)
13. Faafu Atoll – (Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi)
14. Dhaalu Atoll – (Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi)
15. Thaa Atoll – (Kolhumadulu Atholhu)
16. Laamu Atoll – (Hadhdhummathi Atholhu)
17. Gaafu Alif Atoll – (Huvadhu Atholhu Uthuruburi)
18. Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll – (Huvadhu Atholhu Dhekunuburi)
19. Gnaviyani Atoll – (Foahmulah)
20. Seenu Atoll – (Addu Atholhu)
An
atoll is a group of islands with a reef that nearly or entirely
encloses a ring-like lagoon. The English word ‘atoll’ originated from
the Dhivehi (official language of Maldives) word ‘Atholhu’.
Climate Sub-tropical, with two monsoons, The southwest monsoon occurs during the months of May through November
and the northeast monsoon from December through April. The hottest month
in the Maldives is usually the month of April while December is known
as the coolest. The northeast monsoon usually results in the driest
weather and generally February is the driest month of the year. The sun
usually shins for an average of eight hours per day and the max
temperature is around 31 degrees Celsius and the minimum 25.5 degrees
Celsius. Humidity hovers around 79%.
TREES adding TRUE GRACE to the Island of Ihuru in North Malé Atoll, Maldives
