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Area
Land Area : 1,190
islands with a land area of 115 square miles (298 sq. km)
Sea Area
:Approx. 41,500 square miles (107,500 sq. km)
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Formation and Geographical Location
Coral islands, grouped into atolls,
stretch along the 73rd meridian between latitudes 0 42' south and 8 10' north, for a
distance of 468.3 miles (753.6 km), with a width of 73.4 (118.1 km) from east to
west.
The Shortest distance from the
mainland of India is 217 miles (350 km) and from Sri Lanka 460 miles (740 km). Indian
Ocean, near India and Sri Lanka.
Latitude : 07° 06'30" N
to 00° 41'48" S.
Longitude : 72° 32'30" E
to 73° 45'54" E.
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Political Status
Since 1965, an Independent republic
with a democratically elected parliament. President is the head of the government, elected
every 5 years.
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Population
214,139 (1990)
260,000 (1997 official
estimate).
Population in the capital Male' was
58,000 in 1990.
Annual population increase is
3.8%
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Capital : Malé
Male' the capital island has an
area of 1.77 sq.km
Population in the capital Male' was
58,000 in 1990.
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Maldives Standard Time
+5 hrs GMT ( 5 hours
ahead of GMT )
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Religion
100% Sunni Muslim.
Maldives is perhaps the only country
with a 100% Muslim population. Islam was introduced around A.D.800, and the moderate form
practiced in Maldives has remained virtually unchanged.
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Languages
Dhivehi and English.
Dhivehi, an indigenous language
spoken only in the Maldives. The script is called "Thaana". English is the
main taught language at schools. Most people in Male and tourist resorts speak
English
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Literacy Rate
98.2% (Age group 10-45
yrs)
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Health
Maldives is a tropical country but
the people are extremely clean. You will be safe there but please get advice from your
doctor or health visitor regarding vaccinations.
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Weather
Temperature :30.4° C (Mean
Max), 25.4° C (Mean Min).
Monsoons : South-West :
May-October, North-East : November-April.
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Average Annual Rainfall:
1948.2 mm.
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Currency
Maldivian Rufiyaa Mrf and unit
Laari (100 Laari's in 1 Rufiyaa)
Approx.. Exchange rates are US $ 1
= 12 Mrf and Sterling £ 1 = 18 Mrf. German Mark = 6.5 Mrf
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Working Hours
Banks : 8 am - 1.30 PM (Sun to
Thus)
Government Offices : 7.30 am
-2.30 PM (Sun to Thus), Fri and Sat holidays.
Private Offices: Open between
8 am and 10 am and close between 6 PM and 8 PM, with a lunch break. Closed on
Fridays only.
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Credit Cards Accepted
American Express, Diners Club,
EuroCard, JCB, MasterCard, Visa.
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| Economy
Major
Industries: Tourism, fish canning, manufacture of garments, boat building, and
handicrafts.
GDP growth 6.1%. Inflation :
20.1% (1994 figures)
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National Flag and Emblem
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National Tree
Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera).
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National Flower
Pink Rose (Rosa pdyantha).
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Food and Drink
Fish and coconuts are about the
only products which do not have to be imported and they find their way into most
menu. The spiny backed lobster is a delicacy.
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Clothing - Dress Code
Casual clothing is normal in
Maldives. However, it is advisable to have your thighs and shoulders covered. Bikini's are
not permitted in inhabited local islands since it is a Muslim country.
Light weight cottons and linens
clothes are common.
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Shopping
The capital Malé, being the centre
of commercial activity is the ideal place to shop. Shops open between 7.30 and
9.30 am, closing at 11 PM. On Fridays they open at 1.30 PM, closing as usual.
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Alcohol and Drugs
Maldivians, being a Muslims, are
prohibited by law from consuming alcohol, hence there is a strict restriction on the
alcohol available in inhabited islands. Foreigners
who reside in Maldives can have a
private supply arranged by an authorized licensing procedure. All tourist resorts and
hotels, as well cruise ships and yachts have
alcohol for consumption guests.
Maldives is amongst one of the
toughest countries in dealing with drugs. Lengthy jail sentences are normal if found in
possession or whilst using them, even with a
joint. Please do not try to import
any form of drug into Maldives. Also, please do not use drugs even if offered whilst
there, it is not worth the risk!
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Visa Requirements
No prior visa arrangements are
required. A tourist visa of 30 days will be given to visitors with valid travel documents,
on arrival. Visitors should be in possession of at least US$25 per day of stay in the
Maldives. For those coming from yellow fever infected regions, an international
certificate of inoculation is required. A passenger service fee of US$10 is levied per
person, on departure.
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Air Transport
Apart from international flights
operated by South Africa, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,
Singapore, the U.A.E., and a number
of European countries to and from Malé International Airport (Tel : 322073),
there are also regular domestic
flights operated by Air Maldives to Hanimaadhoo, Kadhdhoo, Kaadhedhdhoo, and
Gan. Inter-island services are
operated by Hummingbird Helicopters and the Maldivian Air Taxi, the latter having the
largest air fleet. Sight-seeing trips, photo shooting trips, and medevac operations
are also carried out by them.
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Road Transport
Travel on most of the islands takes no more than
half-an-hour on foot. Bicycles and motorbikes are
popular modes of transport. Taxis are un-metered,
charging Mrf 15, if hailed on the road or Mrf 10, if called on phone from
the taxi services, (325656, 323132, etc.).
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Sea Transport
Local boats, or dhoani's (average speed 7 knots),
are the most common means of water transport.
kilometres to the east on the Hulule' Island. Modern speedboats are also available for hire.
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Things
You Might Have Not Known Before
We eat a lot of fish, mainly skip
jack tuna!
We are not very good at football at
international level ! but it is our national game !
There is only one National Stadium -
Galolhu Dhan'du in the capital Male'
In the middle ages, we were an
important source of the cowry shells, for obvious reasons; these were the currency used by
traders east of Africa, so we were quite a wealthy nation then.
We were a British Protectorate during
the second world war and gained full independence in 1968.
The English word "atoll"
meaning a group of islands is originally a Maldivian word, in Dhivehi, we pronounce it
" Atholhu".
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© Copyright 2003 - A.
S. I. Moosa (Sappe') - It is permitted to use this text in giving
information about the Maldives with due acknowledgement of the author.
This information set has been in compilation since 1995, if there are
any errors or comments please feel free to contact admin@e-maldives.com
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