Page 83 - Asian Paradises 2019-20

— Maldives —

MALDIVES

The 1190 low-lying coral islands that make up the
Maldives are so small that dry land makes up one
percent of the country’s total territory. The 26 coral
atoll nation is situated southwest of the southern tip
of India and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, extending
across the equator in a north-south strip.
Capital and major centres
Malé is a small, quaint capital city and the hub of the Malé Atoll.
This chain, comprising the old North and South Malé Atolls,
stretches for more than 120 kilometres from north to south,
but only 10 of its islands are inhabited; some used for specific
purposes. For instance, Funadhoo is an island where oil is stored;
Thulusdhoo has two factories, Dhiffushi is a fishing island and
Kuda Bandos is a picnic island for the general public.
Malé is tiny when compared to other capital cities, however, it
houses one third of the total population of the Maldives. Malé is
different to the other atolls in the archipelago with its high-rise
buildings, paved streets and small parks dotted about the city.
Seawalls surround Malé and there are no beaches although an
artificially landscaped beach now stretches to the new harbour in
the southwest. To the west is the Alifu or Ari Atoll, in the north is
the large island of Thoddu, and to the south of Alifu Atoll is the
Faafu Atoll and the island of Nilandhoo. In the Laamu Atoll are
Isdhoo and Gadhdhoo, both of which feature impressive ruins.
The Huvadhu Atoll is the largest true atoll formation in
the world, with a huge lagoon and in the Gnaviyani Atoll is
Fuamulaku, one of the most fertile areas in the Maldives.

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