The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Maldives:
The Maldives – island nation comprising a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean.[1] The Maldives is located south of India's Lakshadweep islands, and about seven hundred kilometres (435 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka. The twenty-six atolls of Maldives' encompass a territory featuring 1,192 islets, two hundred and fifty islands of which are inhabited.
The name "Maldives" may derive from Maale Dhivehi Raajje ("The Island Kingdom [under the authority of] Malé")."[2] Some scholars believe that the name "Maldives" derives from the Sanskrit maladvipa, meaning "garland of islands",[3] but this name is not found in ancient Sanskrit literature. Instead, classical Sanskrit texts mention the "Hundred Thousand Islands" (Lakshadweepa). Another theory suggests that the name "Maldives" derives from the Tamil "malai tivu" meaning "island of hills." Some medieval Arab travellers such as Ibn Batuta called the islands "Mahal Dibiyat" from the Arabic word Mahal ("palace")."[4] This is the name presently inscribed in the scroll of the Maldive state emblem.
The religion original settlers of the islands is most likely to be Hinduism. Then around Ashoka's period, in the 3rd century BC, they converted to Buddhism. Islam was introduced in 1153. The Maldives came then under the influence of the Portuguese (1558) and the Dutch (1654) seaborne empires, and in 1887 it became a British protectorate. In 1965, the Maldives obtained independence from Britain (originally under the name "Maldive Islands"), and in 1968 the Sultanate was replaced by a Republic. The growing dependence of the Maldives on China is driving the island nation towards concerning levels of economic indebtedness.[5]
The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in terms of population and area. It is also the smallest entirely Muslim nation in the world.
General reference
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- Pronunciation: /ˈmɔːldiːvs/,/ˈmɒldiːvs/,/ˈmɔːldaɪvs/
- Common English country name: Maldives
- Official English country name: The Republic of Maldives
- Common endonym(s): Rajje /ɾaːd͡ʒd͡ʒe/, Dhivehi rajje /d̪iʋehi ɾaːd͡ʒd͡ʒe/
- Official endonym(s): Dhivehiraajjeyge Jumhooriyya ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ /d̪iʋehi ɾaːd͡ʒd͡ʒeːge d͡ʒumhuːɾijjaː/
- Adjectival(s): Maldivian
- Demonym(s): Maldivians
- ISO country codes: MV, MDV, 462
- ISO region codes: See ISO 3166-2:MV
- Internet country code top-level domain: .mv
Geography of Maldives
edit- Maldives is: an island country
- Location:
- Northern Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere
- Indian Ocean
- between the Arabian Sea and the Laccadive Sea
- Eurasia
- Asia
- South Asia
- Indian subcontinent (off the coast of India, rising above the oceanic crust)
- South Asia
- Asia
- Time zone: UTC 05
- Extreme points of Maldives:
- High: unnamed location on Villingili 2.4 m (8 ft) – lowest high point of any country
- Low: Indian Ocean 0 m
- Land boundaries: none
- Coastline: Indian Ocean 644 km
- Population of Maldives: 306,000 - 171st most populous country
- Area of Maldives: 298 km2
- Atlas of Maldives
Environment of Maldives
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Natural geographic features of Maldives
edit- Glaciers of Maldives: None
- Islands of Maldives
- Mountains of Maldives: None
- World Heritage Sites in Maldives: None
Regions of Maldives
editEcoregions of Maldives
editAdministrative divisions of Maldives
edit- Haa Alifu Atoll
- Haa Dhaalu Atoll
- Shaviyani Atoll
- Noonu Atoll
- Raa Atoll
- Baa Atoll
- Lhaviyani Atoll
- Kaafu Atoll
- Alifu Atoll
- Vaavu Atoll
- Meemu Atoll
- Faafu Atoll
- Dhaalu Atoll
- Thaa Atoll
- Laamu Atoll
- Gaafu Alifu Atoll
- Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
- Gnaviyani Atoll
- Seenu Atoll
Municipalities of Maldives
editMunicipalities of Maldives
- Capital of Maldives: Malé
- Cities of Maldives
Demography of Maldives
editGovernment and politics of Maldives
edit- Form of government: Unitary presidential constitutional republic
- Capital of Maldives: Malé
- Elections in Maldives
- Political parties in Maldives
Branches of the government of Maldives
editExecutive branch of the government of Maldives
editLegislative branch of the government of Maldives
edit- Parliament of Maldives (bicameral)
- Upper house: Senate of Maldives
- Lower house: House of Commons of Maldives
Judicial branch of the government of Maldives
editCourt system of Maldives
Foreign relations of Maldives
editInternational organization membership
editThe Republic of Maldives is a member of:[1]
Law and order in Maldives
editLaw of Maldives
- Constitution of Maldives
- Crime in Maldives
- Human rights in Maldives
- Law enforcement in Maldives
Military of Maldives
edit- Command
- Forces
History of Maldives
editCulture of Maldives
edit- Cuisine of Maldives
- Folklore of the Maldives
- Languages of Maldives
- National symbols of Maldives
- Religion in Maldives
- World Heritage Sites in Maldives: None
Art in Maldives
editSports in Maldives
editSports in Maldives
Economy and infrastructure of Maldives
edit- Economic rank, by nominal GDP (2007): 165th (one hundred and sixty fifth)
- Communications in Maldives
- Companies of Maldives
- Currency of Maldives: Rufiyaa
- Maldives Stock Exchange
- Media in Maledives
- Tourism in Maldives
- Transport in Maldives
Education in Maldives
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Maldives". The World Factbook. United States Central Intelligence Agency. July 7, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
- ^ Caldwell, Comparative Dravidian Grammar, p. 27-28
- ^ J Hogendorn and M Johnson, The Shell Money of the Slave Trade, p. 20-22
- ^ Ibn Batuta, Travels in Asia and Africa, translated by A.R. Gibb
- ^ "A Chinese connection that will prove costly for the Maldives". Hindustan Times. 2017-12-10. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
External links
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- Government
- The President's Office - Republic of Maldives
- (in Dhivehi and English) Information Ministry
- Maps
- Google Maps satellite image of the Maldives
- WikiMapia.org annotated map of the Maldives
- Maps of the Maldivian Atolls
- Overviews and Data
- CIA World Fact Book on Maldives
- "Maldives: Paradise soon to be lost". BBC News. 2004-07-28. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- History and Culture
