Visa: On Arrival

Geography:
The Maldives consists of approximately 1,190 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, along the north-south direction, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers, making this one of the most disparate countries in the world. The atolls are composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, situated atop a submarine ridge 960 kilometers long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs from north to south. Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives. For administrative purposes the Maldives government organized these atolls into twenty one administrative divisions. The largest island of Maldives is Gan, which belongs to Laamu Atoll or Hahdhummathi Maldives. In Addu Atoll the westernmost islands are connected by roads over the reef and the total length of the road is 14 km (9 mi).

The Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in), with the average being only 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, although in areas where construction exists, this has been increased to several metres. The reef is composed of coral debris and living coral. This acts as a natural barrier against the sea, forming lagoons. Other islands, set at a distance and parallel to the reef, have their own protective fringe of reef. An opening in the surrounding coral barrier allows access to the calmer lagoon waters. The barrier reefs of the islands protect them from the storms and high waves of the Indian Ocean.

A whale shark in the Maldives, one of many animals that inhabit the reefs that make up the whole country

A layer of humus 15 centimetres (6 in) thick forms the top layer of soil on the islands. Below the humus layer are 60 centimetres (2 ft) of sandstone, followed by sand and then fresh water. Due to high levels of salt in the soil near the beach, vegetation is limited there to a few plants such as shrubs, flowering plants, and small hedges. In the interior of the island, more vegetation such as mangrove and banyan grow. Coconut palms, the national tree, are able to grow almost everywhere on the islands and are integral to the lifestyle of the population.

The limited vegetation and land wildlife is supplemented by the abundance of marine life. The waters around the Maldives are abundant in rare species of biological and commercial value, with tuna fisheries being traditionally one of the main commercial resources of the country. The Maldives have an amazing diversity of sea life, with corals and over 2,000 species of fish, ranging from reef fish to reef sharks, moray eels, and a wide variety of rays: Manta rays; Stingray; and Eagle ray. The Maldivian waters are also home for the whale shark.

Climate:
Sunset in the Maldives

The Indian Ocean has a great effect on the climate of the country by acting as a heat buffer, absorbing, storing, and slowly releasing the tropical heat. The temperature of Maldives ranges between 24 °C (75 °F) and 33 °C (91 °F) throughout the year. Although the humidity is relatively high, the constant cool sea breezes keep the air moving and the heat mitigated.

The weather in the Maldives is affected by the large landmass of South Asia to the north. The presence of this landmass causes differential heating of land and water. These factors set off a rush of moisture-rich air from the Indian Ocean over the South Asia, resulting in the southwest monsoon. Two seasons dominate Maldives' weather: the dry season associated with the winter northeast monsoon and the rainy season brought the end of April to the end of October and brings strong winds and storms. The shift from the moist southwest monsoon to the dry northeast monsoon occurs during October and November. During this period, the northeast winds contribute to the formation of the northeast monsoon, which reaches Maldives in the beginning of December and lasts until the end of March. However, the weather patterns of Maldives do not always conform to the monsoon patterns of South Asia. The annual rainfall averages 2,540 millimeters in the north and 3,810 millimeters in the south.

Maldives is located at the equator and experiences monsoonal climate. Maldives has two distinct seasons; dry season (northeast monsoon) and wet season (southwest monsoon). In these two seasons the temperature varies hardly. Northeast monsoon extends from January to March. Since Maldives consists of small islands and are surrounded by seas, hot days are often tempered by cooling sea breezes and balmy evening temperatures.

Male(Maldives) is easily accessible through air from major cities throughout the world. Male, the capital of Maldives has the International airport. There are regular flights from Maldives to Colombo, Thiruvananthapuram, Dubai and Kualalampur. Male airport is only 1 Km away from the main city and can be reached by boats or seaplanes.

The best time to visit Male is between the dry months of December and April. This is the high tourist season, and a majority of resorts and flights are booked out in advance during this time.

Hyderabad, India to Male, Maldives is 2,074 km.
Banglore, India to Male, Maldives is 1,074 km.
Chennai, India to Male, Maldives is 1,271 km.

There are a number of international flights that carry the passengers to and from Maldives. The main international airport is situated at Male, the capital city of Maldives. Apart from the typical international flights, also are available the services of various airlines that operate on a regular basis and fly from Dubai, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur and Thiruvananthapuram to Maldives.

For countries like India and Sri Lanka, there is another means of transport to reach Maldives. Infact, Maldives is very well connected with waterways. There is an adequate provision of ships to carry the passengers to the beautiful islands of Maldives.

Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
1st Floor, Ghaazee Building
Ameeru Ahmed Magu
Block 20-05
Male', Republic of Maldives
General Tel:
(+960)3323224
(+960)3323226
Fax: (+960)3322512
E-mail: info@maldivestourism.gov.mv