The Republic of Maldives is a country consisting territorially of a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India. 26 atolls with 1,196 coral islands.
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| National motto: n/a | |||||
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| Official language | Dhivehi | ||||
| Capital and largest city | Malé 4°10′N 73°30′E / 4.167°N 73.500°E | ||||
| President | Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom | ||||
| Area - Total - % water |
Ranked 185th 298 km² Negligible | ||||
| Population - Total (Year) - Density |
Ranked 166th 349,106 (2005 est.) 1,171/km² | ||||
| GDP (PPP) - Total (Year) - GDP/head |
Ranked 183rd $1,250 million $3,900 | ||||
| Currency | Rufiyah (MVR) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC +5 | ||||
| Independence | 26 July 1965 | ||||
| National anthem | Gavmii mi ekuverikan matii tibegen kuriime salaam (In National Unity Do We Salute Our Nation) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .mv | ||||
| Calling Code | 960 | ||||
History
Main article: History of the Maldives
Western interest in the archaeological remains of early cultures on Maldives began with the work of H.C.P. Bell, a British commissioner of the Ceylon Civil Service. Bell was shipwrecked on the islands in 1879, and he returned several times to investigate ancient Buddhist ruins. Historians have established that by the fourth century A.D. Theravada Buddhism originating from Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka) became the dominant religion of the people of Maldives. Some scholars believe that the name "Maldives" derives from the Sanskrit maladvipa, meaning "garland of islands."
In the mid-1980s, the Maldivian government allowed the noted explorer and expert on early marine navigation, Thor Heyerdahl, to excavate ancient sites. Heyerdahl studied the ancient mounds, called hawitta by the Maldivians, found on many of the atolls. Some of his archaeological discoveries of stone figures and carvings from pre-Islamic civilizations are today exhibited in a side room of the small National Museum on Malé.
Heyerdahl's research indicates that as early as 2,000 B.C. Maldives lay on the maritime trading routes of early Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Indus Valley civilizations. Heyerdahl believes that early sun-worshipping seafarers, called the Redin, first settled on the islands. Even today, many mosques in Maldives face the sun and not Mecca, lending credence to this theory. Because building space and materials were scarce, successive cultures constructed their places of worship on the foundations of previous buildings. Heyerdahl thus surmises that these sun-facing mosques were built on the ancient foundations of the Redin culture temples.
According to Maldivian legend, a Sinhalese prince named Koimale was stranded with his bride--daughter of the king of Sri Lanka--in a Maldivian lagoon and stayed on to rule as the first sultan.
Over the centuries, the islands have been visited and their development influenced by sailors from countries on the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean littorals. Mopla pirates from the Malabar Coast--present-day Kerala state in India--harassed the islands.
Before the Second World War.Japanese attack and occupied Maldives in 1943 and Maldives was liberated by Britain against Japan in 1945.
Although governed as an independent Islamic sultanate for most of its history from 1153 to 1968, Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887 until July 25, 1965. In 1953, there was a brief, abortive attempt at a republican form of government, after which the sultanate was reimposed. The Maldivians followed Buddhism before they converted to Islam and the conversion itself is explained in a controversial mythological story about a demon known as Rannamaari.
Following independence from Britain in 1965, the sultanate continued to operate for another 3 years. On November 11, 1968, it was abolished and replaced by a republic, and the country assumed its present name. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.
On 26 December 2004 the Maldives were devastated by a tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The absence of land mass against which waves could be built up reduced the destructive impact, preventing the waves from reaching much more than 1.2 - 1.5 meters in height [1]. Despite this, the archipelago's low lying nature (one of the lowest lying countries on Earth) meant that nearly all of the country was swamped. At least 75 people perished, including six foreigners, and all infrastructure was lost on 13 of the inhabited islands and 29 of the resort islands.
The Economy
Fisheries
The Maldivian economy was for many centuries, entirely dependent on fishing and other marine products; therefore fishing has been and still remains the main occupation of the people. This being so, the government gives special priority to the development of the fisheries sector.
The mechanization of the traditional fishing dhoani in 1974 is a major milestone in the development of the fisheries industry and the country's economy in general. A fish canning plant was installed in the island of Felivaru, in 1977, as a joint venture with a Japanese firm. In 1979, a Fisheries Advisory Board was set up with the mandate of advising the government on policy guidelines for the overall development of the fisheries sector. Manpower development programs were begun in the early Eighties, and fisheries education was incorporated into the school curriculum. Fish aggregating devices and navigational aids were located at various strategic points. Moreover, the opening up of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Maldives for fisheries has further enhanced the growth of the fisheries sector. Today, fisheries contribute over 15 percent of the GDP and engage about 30 percent of the country's work force. It is also largest foreign exchange earner next to tourism.
Tourism
The development of tourism has fostered the overall growth of the country's economy. It has created direct and indirect employment and income generation opportunities in other related industries. Today, tourism is the country's biggest foreign exchange earner, contributing to 20% percent of the GDP. With 86 tourist resorts in operation, the year 2000 recorded 467,154 tourist arrivals. Read more on the article Tourism in Maldives
Cottage industries
The development tourism sector gave a major boost to the country's fledging traditional cottage industries such as mat weaving, lacquer work, handicraft, and coir rope making. New industries that have since emerged include printing, production of PVC pipes, brick making, marine engine repairs, bottling of aerated water, garment production.
Politics
Main article: Politics of the Maldives
Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, first elected president in 1978 and has retained power since. He has ruled in an authoritarian manner. He survived a coup attempt that was foiled with help of Indian troops in 1988.
Since 2003 the country has experienced occasional antigovernment demonstrations that have called for political reforms. Political parties were allowed in June 2005
Atolls
Main article: Atolls of the Maldives
Geography
The Maldives hold the record for being the flattest country in the world, with a maximum altitude of only 2.3 metres. Although there have been reports of rising sea levels threatening the islands, the sea level has actually lowered in recent decades.
A tsunami in the Indian Ocean caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake caused parts of Maldives be covered by sea water and left many people homeless. After the disaster, cartographers are planning to redraw the maps of the islands due to alterations by the tsunami. The people and government are worried that Maldives would be wiped out from the map eventually.
Main article: Geography of the Maldives
See also
"sea_level_MALDIVES.pdf" (PDF). Flooding concept called off – New facts from the Maldives. February 5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
"Maldives Project". Sea Level Changes in the Maldive Islands. February 5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
/* See also */ Effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on the Maldives
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of the Maldives
Culture
Main article: Culture of the Maldives