Geography of Maldives

Maldives, also known as the Maldives Islands, is an independent island nation in the northern Indian Ocean. It is made composed of an atoll-like network of roughly 1,200 tiny coral islands and sandbanks (200 of which are inhabited). More than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west are covered by the islands.

The centre region, which includes the capital island of Male (Male'), is roughly 400 miles (645 km) southwest of Sri Lanka, while the northernmost atoll is roughly 370 miles (600 km) south-southwest of the Indian peninsula.

Physical Features

It is the smallest nation in Asia with a total land area of 298 km2 (115 sq. mi). It occupies an area of around 90,000 square kilometres and is made up of about 1,190 coral islands that are organized into two chains of 26 atolls, making it one of the most geographically dispersed nations in the world. Its 923,322 km2 (356,497 sq. mi) exclusive economic zone ranks as the 31st largest in the world. The atolls, which are made up of sandbars and live coral reefs, are located on top of a submerged ridge that spans from north to south and is 960 km (600 mi) long.

Two open passageways that allow safe ship transit from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other within the Maldives' territorial waters are only near the southern end of this natural coral wall. These atolls were divided into twenty-one administrative divisions by the Maldives government for administrative purposes. Gan, which is a part of Laamu Atoll or Hahdhummathi Maldives, is the largest island in the Maldives. The roads that connect Addu Atoll's westernmost islands to one another cross the reef for a total distance of 14 kilometres (8.7 mi).

The majority of the Maldives' atolls are made up of a sizable coral reef in the form of a ring that supports numerous little islands. Islands typically have an area of one to two square kilometres. No island is longer than eight kilometres, despite some of the bigger atolls being about 50 km (31 mi) long from north to south and 30 km (19 mi) wide from east to west. The Maldives lack hills, but some islands, like the NW coast of Hithadhoo (Seenu Atoll) in Addu Atoll, have dunes that can rise as high as 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) above sea level.

Although the islands are too small to have rivers, several of them do have tiny lakes and marshes. The number of inhabited islands in each atoll ranges from 5 to 10, whereas the number of unoccupied islands ranges from 20 to 60. However, some atolls are made up of a single sizable, isolated island that is encircled by a rocky coral beach. The enormous island of Fuvahmulah in the Equatorial Channel is the most well-known example of this kind of atoll.

Some islands are swampy, while others are taller because waves have piled sand and stones there. The seawater that enters the limestone and coral sands of the islands is replaced by freshwater that floats in a layer known as the "Ghyben/Herzberg lens" above it.

Climate

All year long, the Maldives experience temperatures between 24 and 33 ⁰C (75.2 and 91.4 ⁰F). The continuous sea breezes help to keep the air flowing despite the relatively high humidity. The dry season connected to the winter northeast monsoon and the rainy season brought on by the summer southwest monsoon are the two seasons that dominate the weather in the Maldives.

The temperature in the Maldives is consistently high and hardly ever drops below 25 ⁰C (77 ⁰F), even at night, due to the island nation's low elevation—the highest point in the country is less than 8 feet. In the north, there is an average annual rainfall of 2,540 millimetres (100 in), while in the south, it is 3,810 millimetres (150 in).

The vast landmass of South Asia to the north has considerable impact on the weather in the Maldives. This landmass's presence produces a differential heating of the land and the ocean. The Maldives' harshest weather, including severe winds and storms, is brought on by the wet southwest monsoon, which lasts from the end of April until the end of October. The weather in the Maldives does not usually follow South Asian monsoon trends. In the middle of the dry season, rain showers have been recorded to last for up to one week across the entire nation.

Flora and Vegetation

As the primary source of gross domestic product (GDP), tourism has well overtaken fishing, which had long served as the economy's fundamental foundation. The sector still accounts for the majority of the nation's exports and is still expanding, albeit more slowly than the tourist sector, but it only employs fewer than one-fifth of the working force and makes up less than one-tenth of the GDP. The majority of fish caught are tuna, which are typically caught using a pole and line, though a sizable portion of the fishing fleet is now mechanized.

The majority of the fish caught is sold to international businesses for processing and export. Although formal businesses have expanded quickly throughout the nation, particularly on the major islands, the majority of the population still relies on fishing, collecting coconuts, growing tropical fruits, vegetables, and melons, as well as roots and tubers like cassava, sweet potatoes, and yams, to make a living. The little amount of arable land, dispersed across numerous islands, means that almost all of the essential foods must be imported.

The Maldives' inhabited and deserted islands have different tropical vegetation. Small banana, papaya, drumstick, and citrus tree groves can be found near dwellings on inhabited islands. Breadfruit trees and coconut palms are grown in vacant lots. On the other hand, deserted islands feature predominantly mangroves (kuredi, kand) and various types of vegetation (mag, boshi) along the water's edge, along with a few coconut trees.

Conclusion

The Maldives is renowned for its atoll-like network of tiny coral islands and sandbanks. It is the smallest country in Asia and is made up of 200 inhabited islands out of around 1,200. There are coral reefs, atolls, and a central plateau throughout the nation. The Maldives, which have a subtropical climate, have two distinct seasons: a dry season affected by the northeast monsoon and a rainy season brought on by the southwest monsoon.

The economy is heavily reliant on tourism, while fishing is still important. The vegetation on populated and uninhabited islands varies, but tropical fruits and coconut palms are both widespread.

FAQs

1. How many islands make up the Maldives?

There are over 1,200 little coral islands and sandbanks in the Maldives.

2. What is the size of the Maldives' exclusive economic zone?

The exclusive economic zone of the Maldives is the 31st largest in the world, spanning around 923,322 square kilometres.

3. What is the climate like in the Maldives?

The Maldives experiences a subtropical climate with year-round highs of 24 to 33 ⁰C (75.2 to 91.4 ⁰F).

4. What are the main economic activities in the Maldives?

The Maldives' economy is mostly driven by tourism, followed by fishing, which continues to be a significant industry.

5. What types of vegetation can be found in the Maldives?

Small groves of banana, papaya, and citrus trees can be found on the Maldives' inhabited islands, while mangroves and other forms of flora can be found on the islands that are desolate.