Official name a chain of atolls and coral islands located south of India, in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean - the Republic of Maldives. The population of this South Asian state is approximately 393 thousand people. The total area of ​​the country is 90 thousand sq. km. The climate is subequatorial monsoon.

The Maldives amaze with its endless ocean, amazing underwater caves and reefs. The island evokes calmness and comfort surrounding tropical virgin nature. The culture has stopped at a primitive level, and the locals still respect their traditions.

The largest coral island in the Maldives is Kafu, on which stands the city of Male, which is considered the smallest capital and the most populated city. Male is so small in size that it can be walked around in a couple of hours.

Attractions of the Maldives

Famous places in the Maldives are the National Museum and the Muliage Palace, designed in colonial style. It is also worth visiting the beautiful Jumuri Maidan Park or visiting one of the most revered shrines in the Maldives - Medu Ziyarat Chapel.

In the city of Male, there is the Good Friday Mosque, famous for its golden dome. Next to it are the graves of both national heroes and members of the ruling families. It is worth paying attention to the Islamic Center, which is located nearby. It is considered the largest Maldives, because at the same time it can accommodate about 5000 people.

Local markets are also not far behind in popularity, there are several types of them - vegetable, fruit and handicraft, where the inhabitants of the islands sell handicrafts.

Many tourists are attracted to the Maldives by unsurpassed diving. The underwater world of the peninsula strikes with a variety of inhabitants, at the same time, coral reefs scare away predators and swimming under water is not at all dangerous.

Paradise for honeymooners

For most tourists, the Maldives is one of the most romantic places on the planet. Therefore, newlyweds and lovers in the first place tend to the islands. What is the wedding ceremony on white sand at sunset and decorated around with palm leaves. If you discuss the wedding with the hotel in advance, you can get a discount and check into the best bungalow. The Maldives is suitable not only for the wedding ceremony, but also for the honeymoon itself. After all, the rest here is unique and unusual. On the beach you can see both young people and families with children or even older people.

- an island state in southern Asia, in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. There are more than 2000 small islands. Maritime borders lie in the Indian Ocean.

The name of the country comes from the Sanskrit dwipa - "island".

Official name: Republic of Maldives

Capital: Male

The area of ​​the land: 298 sq. km

Total population: 395 thousand people

Administrative division: The country is divided into 20 island groups.

Form of government: Republic.

Head of State: President elected for a term of 5 years.

Composition of the population: 99% are Maldivians (ethnogenesis is not completely clear), as well as Arabs and people from the African continent.

Official language: Maldivian (dhivehi). English language widespread in the capital Male and resorts.

Religion: Almost the entire population professes Sunni Islam.

Internet domain: .mv

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Phone country code: +960

Climate

Tropical marine. The temperature all year round on average does not fall below +25 C even at night. The average temperature is about +28 C all year round (daytime maximum - about +32 C, nighttime minimum - +25 C). Precipitation is about 2500 mm. per year, and most often in the form of short rains in the evening and at night. The water temperature is also constant - about + 24-27 C all year round.

Best weather observed during the "iruvai" period (from November-December to March-April, the season of the northeast monsoon), when the sea is calm, and the weather is sunny and dry. From May to October, during the "hulhangu" season (April to October), the weather is less predictable - the southwest monsoon can bring intermittent rains, high humidity and rough seas (however, this period is the least hot). Storms and waves are most likely in June and December.

Geography

The island state of the Maldives is located 700 km. southwest of Sri Lanka, in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. Two almost parallel chains of islands, bordered by coral reefs, and lying at a relatively short distance from each other, stretch for 820 km. from North to South. In total, there are 1196 islands, forming 26 atolls, of which only 199 are inhabited and about 100 are open to the public. The total area of ​​the country is about 90 thousand square meters. km., land - only 298 sq. km.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

Forests cover no more than 3% of the area of ​​the islands. Coconut palms grow on many islands, which do not suffer from soil salinization, banana groves and a dense shrub cover, mangroves in some places, and banyan, pandanus and various thorny plants are found in the depths of the islands.

Animal world

Coastal waters abound with fish. Sea turtles are found, which for a long time were intensively exterminated by the population. Their meat and fat were used for food, and their shells were used for various handicrafts. Currently, turtles are on the verge of extinction and are protected by law. Since 1996 there has been a program for the protection environment"A Million Trees" Within its framework, nurseries have been created in which seedlings are grown for further planting on the islands of the archipelago.

The traditional activities of the Maldivians are the collection of kauri shells and the cultivation of coconut palm, which gives copra, vegetable oil and palm leaves. Crops such as rice, taro, millet, corn, sweet potato, and cassava are also cultivated. Of the industries, fish processing is developed.

Attractions

The Maldives is widely known for its resort atolls, each of which is its own unique world, surrounded by the purest coral beaches and indescribably blue sea. This is a "place at the end of the world", where there is no noise of cities and annoying signs of civilization, where there is only exotic nature and endless expanses of the ocean.

Numerous underwater coral reefs and caves stretch throughout the Maldives archipelago, lush tropical vegetation emphasizes the pristine and unique beauty of the islands, and the ancient culture of the locals creates a unique setting for a secluded holiday.

Banks and currency

Maldivian rupees (rufiyaas). One rupee is equal to 100 lari. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 rupees. As well as coins of 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 lari. US dollars and major credit cards, so it is not necessary to exchange dollars for local currency upon arrival.

In Male, banks and exchange offices are concentrated on Marine Drive. They are open from 8.00 to 13.30, from Sunday to Thursday (as in many other Muslim countries, Friday and Saturday are days off in the Maldives). Upon departure, the remaining rupees are allowed to be exchanged back into dollars. Currency exchange can be carried out not only in a bank, but also in a number of large stores, on which a special sign hangs next to the signs of international tourist cards.

Useful information for tourists

It is forbidden to drink alcohol in public places (outside resort area). It is recommended to drink bottled water and soft drinks. Although local water is cleaned quite thoroughly (often it is desalinated sea water), it quickly becomes unusable due to high temperatures.

Traditional Islamic norms of behavior are strong in the country, but without the slightest sign of fanaticism. The restrictions are the same as in Oman. Photography is prohibited in mosques. Mosque guards usually insist on accompanying a tourist, expecting to take a fee, but in fact the mosque can be explored on your own. Nude swimming is prohibited on all islands of the archipelago, with the exception of Kuramati Island. You can bargain in the markets and in private shops, but the size of the "discount" is usually small.

Spearfishing and unauthorized fishing are prohibited (all types of sea fishing are freely organized in hotels), it is strictly forbidden to raise corals (both living and dead), shells and other marine life from the bottom of the sea. Large fines are levied for violations. The country has one of the largest markets in the region selling shells, corals and various exotic marine animals, so you can always buy these souvenirs without violating local laws.

Tipping is not officially accepted, but unofficially, if the service really deserves it, it is customary to leave a small amount to the personally serving worker (10 dollars a week for a hotel worker or 5% for a waiter). Some resorts include a service charge on the bill (usually 10%), in which case tipping is not necessary. In the case of renting a boat or boat, the amount should be discussed in advance.

Detailed information about the Maldives, the location of the islands on the world map, how to get to them, whether you need a visa, what prices, what hotels to choose and how to book. As well as everything about the types of recreation for a full-fledged Maldivian relaxation, information about national dishes, climate, weather, currency and the Maldivians

The coast of the Indian Ocean with picturesquely sprawling atolls - Maldives. beautiful nature, high class hotels, beaches that cannot be seen. The Maldives is the best exotic vacation for tourists who want to swim in the Indian Ocean. Lagoons with atolls shimmering blue, golden sandy beach, exotic, beautiful flora and fauna, and most importantly, high-class hotels with excellent service.

Not everyone can afford to go to the Maldives, as the prices here are not small. Tickets are not cheap. But having paid such a small amount of money, tourists are usually completely satisfied.

Maldives- this is a paradise for maniac divers who do not get out of the water for days on end. They do not care where and how to live, just to dive. It is also a great place for honeymoon trip. Memories will remain for the rest of your life. This is a place for those who want to completely relax and forget that somewhere else there is another life with problems and troubles.

General information about the islands

Where are the Maldives on the world map

The Maldives, located south of the Indian subcontinent, is a magnificent chain of islands in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, consisting of 26 atolls. The Maldives was once a British colony. Gained independence in 1965.

State capital: city of Male
Form of government: Rules the country - the President. The highest legislative body is the Mejlis.
Religion: Islam
National currency: Rufiya
Population: The Maldives has a population of 436,330 in 2017, ranking it 175th in the world. The Maldives has a high population density of 1,102 people per square kilometer, making it the 11th most populous country on earth.
Phone code of Maldives: +960
Official website of the country: http://www.visitmaldives.com/en

Excellent issue of Eagle and Tails about the Maldives

The climate in the Maldives, or when is the best time to go

The Maldives has a monsoon subequatorial climate. The temperature fluctuates from + 24 to + 30 degrees all year round. The rainy season starts from June and ends in August.

The best time of the year to visit the Maldives is during the dry season which runs from January to April

Visa and customs regulations

Citizens of the Russian Federation and the CIS are exempted from receiving visas. You just need to apply for a medical insurance policy. Currency import and export without restrictions. The import of alcoholic beverages into the country is prohibited. This also applies to items purchased from airport shops. There are some restrictions forimport products: salami sausage and pork. If the value of the goods is over $200, it must be declared. You can not carry items for underwater fishing. It is impossible to export specimens of the underwater world of the country. The ban has been lifted only from souvenirs sold legally.

There is no "Tax free" system in the Maldives

How to get to the islands

The Maldives has one airport at its disposal. It is located at a distance of 2 km. from Male on the island of Hulvle.

From Moscow to the Maldives there are flights from airports : Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo. There are direct flights and with transfers. Ticket prices one way: from 240 to 525 US dollars. Travel time without transfers is 8 hours 45 minutes. With transfers up to 13 hours. When departing from the islands, a fee of 25 USD must be paid. Only children under 2 years of age are exempted from the fee.

From Maldives Airport to Male there are ferries, the ticket will cost 15 MVR. For 20 MVR you can on the boate reach other Maldives. They fly to very remote islands on seaplanes. Usually all Maldivian tour operators have their representatives at the airport. They meet and send tourists.

Resorts of the Maldives

Capital of the Maldives Male covers an area of ​​5.8 sq. km. It can be considered one of the smallest capitals in the world. Located on the island of the same name, it accommodates a third of the population of the entire country. Arriving travelers are amazed at the views of skyscrapers and highways. The main embankment is also the central street of the capital. Here government buildings, banks and offices various firms. The city is divided by a square with moorings. On the one hand, this is the presidential pier. On the other hand, ferries leave for the airport. But around there is a real paradise of exotic islands, to which tourists disperse. All other islands are for rent.

Islands, their features and why they are remarkable

Most best entertainment on the islands - diving. The beauty of the seabed and clear water attracts a huge number of fans of this sport. The main territories of the islands have not yet been developed. Only 28 of them have been turned into expensive resorts.

Ari Atoll

Tourists are treated very carefully here. There is something to do: windsurfing, snorkeling, water skiing, canoeing, catamarans, diving from a boat, riding scooters and diving.

Vaavu

A huge number of small islands, but only 5 of them are available for tourism. The population is 2000 people. The archipelago is untouched nature and amazing underwater world. Here you can watch stingrays, see reef sharks, hammerhead fish and many other representatives of the underwater world. All these pristine charms attract a large influx of tourists.

Laviani

Amazingly beautiful atoll. Great place for scuba diving. The ledges of reefs from the water are overgrown with coral formations. Ocean water abounds with tropical fish. You can see moray eels and large sharks. These are 63 small islands. Its length is 30 km. There are 2 hotels, a small hotel and a luxury hut. Wealthy tourists like to spend their holidays here.

Miimu

Miimu - size in length - 47 km. Fantastically beautiful and almost uninhabited. The surface of the ocean is a silvery ocean surface, the islands are green, amazing customs, very tasty food. Miimu is shaped like a shark's jaws when they are open. It has a huge number of places where no human foot has yet set foot. This naturally attracts lovers of active tourism. Despite some wildness of nature, it is fully equipped to receive tourists. It has everything, including a diving center.

Siinu atoll

Siinu Atoll is almost the equator. Includes a large number of coral islands. Six islands are inhabited. They are connected to the ocean by straits. Once there was a naval base here.

Gan Island

Gan Island is famous for its airport, which operates daily flights to the capital.

Hitadu Island

Hitadhoo Island, which is the second largest city, has a highway. For the island - this is an unprecedented rarity.

matirah

Matirah (Matheerah) - a skeleton with an ancient mausoleum, which houses a sacred tomb. Sufi Muslim pilgrims come here. "Noble" - that's what they call him in the Maldives.

Oh well

The hotels located here can be reached by seaplane. It will take about 45 minutes. There is clear water, amazing flora and fauna. Many reef rocks, it is better to dive with an instructor.

Male

Locations of 3 top class hotels. The island is not big, there are not very many places to visit with excursions. This is understandable, since they come here on vacation. But, there is something that needs to be looked at. Click on the name Male, there we tell a lot more about the capital!

Mosque "Good Friday" is the main attraction. The mosque with a golden dome is visible when the plane is landing. Orthodox Christians are allowed to enter. Women need special clothing. If you go up to the second floor you need to take off your shoes. Historical National Museum housed in a beautiful building. The exhibits in the museum are personal belongings of the sultans, outfits, jewelry, coral sculptures, and weapons.

Monument with a closed code to the victims of the tsunami. Erected in memory of the victims of the prices in 2004. It is a spiral wrapped around the stele. It is very reminiscent of DNA molecules, which are characterized as something eternal and living. So the sculptor wanted to show that people remember the dead and they are always alive in their hearts. They mourn for them. Friday Old Mosque erected on the remains of the foundation of the temple of the pagans. Its architectural design is an interweaving of Hinduism and Islamism. At the entrance, a minaret resembling a lighthouse in shape. The sultans and their entourage are buried nearby. Everyone is allowed in, but not during prayer. The blocks of the mosque are made up of corals, which are perfectly matched to each other. No type of mortar was used during construction. This is not fake surprise!

Timu Palace. The place where the country's first sultan was born. In 1986 it was restored and opened to the public. It is a place of pilgrimage for local nationalists.

National Maldivian cuisine

Tourists coming to the Maldives eat fish with rice and sauce. Rarely dare to try the traditional Maldivian cuisine. Such an experience can be an excursion to the capital of the country, where you can try national dishes of local cuisine in restaurants. Fish is the main dish in the Maldives. This is not surprising when you consider that the entire island is an ocean.

Most of all, the islanders love tuna. This is their main dish. It can be fresh, boiled, dried, cured, smoked or canned. There is no gas in the houses here. Cooked on wood-fired stoves. To prevent smoke from entering the house, the kitchen is separate from the main living space.

It is hardly worth listing the names of local dishes. You still don't remember them. Let's focus on the main products from which these dishes are prepared. These are coconut, onion, chili, lime juice, maize, salt, flour. Various types of cakes and fillings are very popular here. The products listed above are placed inside, the dough is pinched and baked, as we bake pies in a pan.

They love tuna broth here. Tourists are happy to eat it as a first course. The islanders use this broth when stewing rice, to which they add coconut milk, lime, chili and onion. There is also concentrated tuna paste in the diet of local residents here. It is used to prepare dishes from already cooked rice. This dish is called here - rihaakuru. You can buy it ready-made in the store and try it on bread. That is, make yourself a sandwich.

There is a dish here, which is prepared from dried fish and curry sauce. It's terribly sharp. Rice is also a staple food. Breadfruit is also used. Breadfruit is cut, fried and considered a snack. Taro and sweet potato are local vegetables. They are also widely used in the local diet. Chicken - this should already be some kind of big celebration: a wedding, a religious holiday.

Eating in the Maldives is traditional - thinly sliced ​​nuts, betel leaves, pasta are served. All this you just need to chew. locals This chewing is believed to aid digestion. This is such a tricky meal. For us, this is just the perfect diet. Who wants to lose weight, get ready for the Maldives. Such a diet, plus swimming, lying in the sun, trips around the country, diving with a mask and kilograms, as it happened.

Local drinking water is not suitable for drinking by our standards, so buy purified drinking water.

Some drinks in the Maldives are locally prepared. Coca-Cola is produced here by purifying sea water using special equipment. They also produce their own mineral water. If you want something stronger, then you can afford it only in the bars in the resorts. Alcohol is not sold in stores. You will also be pleased with the food to which we are all accustomed.

Based on the foregoing, the Maldives can be safely attributed to a paradise place for relaxation, it is inapplicable that any person who loves beach holiday and privacy with nature.

Video review from tourists about their trip to the Maldives

The Republic of Maldives is an island state in Indian Ocean.

The archipelago of the Maldives is located at the junction of the Arabian and Laccadive Seas, five hundred kilometers southwest of the southern tip of the Hindustan peninsula. detailed map The Maldives shows that the country occupies 27 atoll formations, consisting of 1192 individual coral islands.

The Maldives cannot boast large sizes. The largest is Gan Island, but its area is less than 10 km2. Most of the islands in the archipelago do not exceed a few hundred square meters.

Maldives on the world map: geography, nature and climate

If you look at the Maldives on the world map, you will notice that the southern part of the country is crossed by the equator line. Although the length of the archipelago is about 750 km from north to south and 130 km from west to east, the total area of ​​its islands is only 298 km2. The atolls of the Maldives can occupy hundreds of km 2, but are ring-shaped in shape. And the majority major islands located on the outer sides of the atoll rings.

The coastline of the Maldives is 644 km. Due to its remoteness from the coasts of the continent, the country has neither land nor sea neighbors.

Geographical position

The Maldives are the peaks of the underwater Chagos-Laccadive Range, which stretches for almost 2500 km. However, the Maldives is not represented by volcanic rocks. All the islands of the archipelago are made up of sand and coral formations. Therefore, the Maldives state is considered the lowest located state of the planet.

The most high point The country is located on the island of Gan and is only 2.4 meters above sea level. Most of the archipelago is uninhabited. Only about 200 islands are inhabited. Due to the great length of the Maldives, there are several large straits that separate groups of atolls. On the map of the Maldives in Russian, you can find the largest of them - the equatorial strait. Its width is about 95 km, and its depth exceeds 2500 m.

Animal and plant world

Due to the small size of the islands and the dense population of the largest of them, the terrestrial flora and fauna of the archipelago is not rich. Several varieties of palm trees and rare mangrove forests are all that the Maldives can boast of. The fauna of the islands also does not shine with diversity - Achatina, hermit crabs, gray herons and flying foxes. But the underwater world of the country is incommensurably richer.

Hundreds of giant living coral ecosystems contain about 200 species of corals, more than 1,000 species of fish, 250 species of crustaceans, and up to 500 species of mollusks and echinoderms. Also, the local fauna boasts two dozen species of various whales and dolphins. The straits between the atolls are abundantly inhabited by plankton.

Climate

The subequatorial climate of the Maldives is formed by seasonal northeast monsoons. The average temperature throughout the year is approximately the same - from 23-30°C. Although there are no distinct seasons in the country, spring is somewhat hotter and drier. With the advent of the monsoons, the temperature and humidity rise slightly. The average rainfall is about 2000 mm per year.

Map of Maldives with cities. Administrative division of the country

The Maldives is divided into 21 administrative divisions. Together they form 8 regions, formed according to the principle of geographical proximity. The population of the country is about 405,000 people. A map of the Maldives with cities in Russian shows that with a small area, this makes the Maldives one of the most densely populated states in the world. The average population density here is 1135 people per km2.

Male- capital and The largest city countries. Located in the central part of the Maldives. Almost a quarter of the population of the archipelago lives here. It is included in the list of the most densely populated cities in the world and occupies the entire territory of the island of the same name, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich does not exceed 6 km 2.

Kuramati Island located 50 km west of the capital. Despite its small size, the island is the most popular tourist destination in the country.

Eidhafushi- one of the largest inhabited islands of the Maldives. It is located in the northern part of the archipelago, 100 km northwest of Male. notable absolute altitude 0 meters above sea level.

Republic of Maldives presents yourself nothing more than a group of atolls - rings covering sea ​​lagoons. The archipelago is located south of India, and the sea of ​​​​the Maldives is the majestic and huge Indian Ocean, which here merges with the sky, making a line horizon almost invisible.

Paradise vacation

Which sea borders the Maldives? This question ask one of first happy owners of tours to luxury Maldivian resorts. The Indian Ocean is the third largest among the world's oceans and it is its waters done beach holidays on the islands amazing and memorable.

The main visitors to the local resorts can be divided into three groups:

Newlyweds who decide to have a honeymoon month royally. The sea of ​​the Maldives, the white sand of the beaches and the bright sun, complete with magnificent hotels and the opportunity to retire together on the whole island are weighty arguments in favor of choosing this particular tourist directions.

divers, for which in the first and only place - the rich underwater world of the Indian Ocean in the Maldives. Other aspects of them few disturb, and diving in the local resorts is possible in any season.

Fans of upscale leisure and ideal services for which the issue price does not matter.

ocean of dreams

Indian Ocean in the Maldives islands can be called perfect. At him nice color, clean water transparent, the underwater world is striking in its diversity, and the water temperature makes swimming pleasant and comfortable. The thermometer in his waters on local resorts Not descends below +26 degrees throughout the year, from which beachgoers, and divers are ecstatic.

The Maldives (Republic of Maldives) is an island state in the Indian Ocean, located on a group of atolls south of the Indian subcontinent, just north of the equator. The archipelago consists of 20 atolls, which include almost 1200 small islands formed by the skeletons of coral polyps on an underwater hill. Only about 200 islands are permanently inhabited by people.
All the islands of the atoll archipelago barely rise above the surface of the ocean - the highest point is 6 m above sea level.
The capital of the state is the city of Male, located on the atoll of the same name.

The question is, what kind of seas in the Maldives, usually puzzled and those who like to go out on yachts. On the archipelago, there is even an opportunity to stay on a yacht, and its rent will not exceed cost good room in the hotel here.

This type of holiday allows see many new islands and get a real ocean of impressions.
Indian ocean rich the most varied representatives fauna.

In the early 70s, the Maldives was “discovered” for tourism by diving travelers, discovering the most beautiful corners of the underwater world. Gradually, the tourism industry on the islands reached a high level and this moment Tourism in the Maldives occupies 98% of the country's economy. The Maldives is one of the best places in the world for diving.

There is everything here: uninhabited islands, warm and crystal clear waters, a huge number of reefs and an uncountable variety of marine life. Excellent visibility under water, sometimes exceeding 50 meters, and warm water temperature of +26 ... + 27 ° C all year round make diving in the Maldives extraordinarily attractive. Those who wish are offered a variety of excursions: visiting Male, fishing villages, trips to uninhabited islands for half a day or the whole day, fishing (in the morning or evening), helicopter rides. The Maldives is considered to be one of the most safe places recreation in the world.

Here you can meet not only sea turtles and dolphins, but even blue whales and sperm whales. In the Maldives area, the ocean waters are inhabited by plankton, some of which can glow at night, which makes the waves especially picturesque.

dangerous animals there are no islands on land, but cetaceans sharks that can swim to the coast for enough close quarters, eat only plankton and do not pose a threat to swimmers.