16 Facts About Maldives

The Maldives is the flattest country on the planet. This lovely island nation has an average elevation of 1.8 metres, with the highest point, Villingili Island, rising only 2.3 metres above sea level.

The Maldives' 1,200 islands are only about two metres above sea level on average, making the area more vulnerable to rising sea levels, erosion, and other environmental factors. As a result, the country is gradually vanishing into the sea. Fortunately, the Maldives has strict environmental laws in place to reduce the impact.

The Maldives is located directly across the equator. Because it is located on the equator, sunlight strikes the country at a 90-degree angle.

The Maldives has a tropical monsoon climate with wet and dry seasons: the northeastern winter monsoon season, which runs from November to March, and the southwestern summer monsoon season, which runs from June to August, both bring rain to the country. The northeast monsoon, in particular, is distinguished by mild and dry winds, as well as showers.

Unlike most "white sand" beaches, which have yellowish sand, Maldives beaches have true white sand. The Maldives' beaches have coralline sands. Other beaches frequently have yellow-tinged quartz sand. Coralline sands are extremely rare, occurring on only about 5% of the world's beaches.

Only about 200 of the Maldives' 1,200 islands are inhabited, with the remaining 110 reserved for tourism. Because of a travel ban imposed in 1984, the remaining uninhabited islands are used for agriculture and other sources of income. However, tourists have been able to visit and enjoy the island country's beautiful islands, beaches, and resorts since 2009.

It has the world's largest population of whale sharks. The Maldives is a well-known diving destination. Giant whale sharks can be found in the area, particularly near the reefs near Sun Island. These gentle giants and other shark species can also be found on Rangali Island and Hanifaru Bay. Keep an eye out in Maldives waters in case you spot a whale shark!

In terms of the Maldives' thriving marine biodiversity, its seas are home to five of the world's seven marine turtle species. When visiting popular dive sites in the country, you can see loggerheads, leatherbacks, Olive Ridley turtles, green turtles, and hawksbill turtles.

Traditional Maldivian Yachts Use no compasses or GPS. Expect to ride dhonis, or traditional Maldives boats, if you visit the Maldives. They are one of the best modes of transportation for exploring the island country's atolls.

The coconut tree is the Maldives' national tree, and it appears on their flag. These trees can live for at least a hundred years and reach heights of 30 metres.

Unlike most countries, which consider Saturday and Sunday to be weekends, the Maldives has weekends on Friday and Saturday. In Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and other Islamic countries, this is common.

The Boduberu is an instrument used in traditional Maldivian music. You've probably seen those large drums made of coconut wood in the Maldives; they're known as "Boduberu," and they're the heart and soul of traditional Maldivian music. The head of these drums is made of manta ray skin, but modern versions are made of goatskin.

Due to coral mining, traditional Maldivian houses were originally made of corals. Coral rocks from shallow reef flats were used to construct these houses. Because most people built their homes out of lumber and coconut leaves, coral was reserved for mosques, tombstones, and monuments as a symbol of opulence.

A coral house was a symbol of luxury and prestige. Even though coral reefs are now protected, old coral houses can still be found in the Maldives.

Former President Mohammed Nasheed and 13 other government officials attended the first underwater cabinet meeting on October 17, 2009. The meeting's agenda was to discuss the looming threat of global warming.

The Maldives' official religion is Islam. Because of the influence of Arab and Persian traders in 947 AD, it has been the official religion since 1153. All citizens are required by law to be Muslims. Those in positions of power should be Sunni Muslims.