The Maldives
The paradise on earth
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Location and Geography
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The Maldives lies in two rows of atolls in the Indian Ocean, just across the equator.
The country is made up of 1,190 coral islands formed around 26 natural ring-like
atolls, spread over 90,000 square kilometers. These atolls structures are formed
upon a sharp ridge rising from the ocean, making way for their secluded uniqueness.
Each atoll in the Maldives is made of a coral reef encircling a lagoon, with deep
channels dividing the reef ring. A string of islands take their places among this
atoll ring; each island has its own reef encircling the island lagoon. The reefs
of the islands, alive with countless types of underwater creatures and vibrant corals,
protect the islands from wind and wave action of the surrounding vast oceans. This
unique structure of reefs and channels makes navigation almost impossible for the
passer-by without sufficient information about these waters.
Ninety-nine percent of the Maldives is made up of sea. The people of the islands
are widely dispersed across the atolls, with about 200 inhabited islands. About
90 islands are developed as tourist resort and the rest are uninhabited or used
for agriculture and other livelihood purposes.
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