Maldives official name. Where are the Maldives on the world map. Traveling around the area

Capital- Male city
Square- 298 sq. km.
Population— 393 thousand people
Language— Maldivian
Form of government- presidential republic
Independence date (from Great Britain)— July 26, 1965
Largest cities— Male
Currency- rufiyaa
Timezone — +5
Telephone code — +960

From above they resemble a handful of opals scattered in the ocean blue; this is a divine work of art, and perhaps even diabolical, because they are very seductive. Located in the Indian Ocean 700 km southwest of, 26 atolls consisting of corals that have grown around extinct volcanoes is the Republic of Maldives. Each of the 26 atolls has natural resources - snow-white beaches, clear turquoise water and lush tropical vegetation. There are about 2 thousand islands in total, but only 200 of them are inhabited and 87 receive tourists. So there are hotels here for every taste.

Maldives - video

The Maldives are like pictures come to life, depicting a typical island paradise. Warm tropical sea and kilometers of snow-white beaches surrounded by palm trees. Just don’t look for mountains here - there are none here. The islands are completely flat, they are even considered the flattest territory in the world. Many of the islands rise above the water no more than 2 meters. The population of the Maldives speaks Dhivehi, but when entering school, at the age of three, children begin to learn Arabic. Most young people also speak English fluently. And the level of literacy will give a head start or more developed countries, it reaches 99%.

Over the past few years, the Maldives has experienced a boom in foreign tourism. And this is completely understandable - the country can offer tourists any conditions: from the simplest to those that meet the most demanding tastes. Accommodation from campsites to 5-star hotels. But all the proposals have something in common - sapphire waters, golden beaches and emerald forests.

Looking at this beauty you understand - the best place in the world for romantics. The weather here is beautiful, so it is a suitable place for rest and relaxation. The beaches here are rarely crowded, so it feels like you have your own beach.

In hotels full of oriental luxury you can enjoy all the amenities and live like in a fairy tale. In the infinity pools, the water from which pours directly into the Indian Ocean, it is very easy to imagine yourself as a mermaid or inhabitant ocean depths. You can't help but relax here. With the highest level of service, all you have to do is relax and enjoy yourself. And this proves how well the Maldives is adapted for tourists.

- capital of the Republic of Maldives. Of the 400 thousand people living in the Maldives, about a third live in this city. Male is lively Big City, typical of tropical islands. With numerous shops, lively bazaars and even street traffic.

Islamic Center- one of the most famous buildings in the city of Male, the roof of which is crowned with a golden dome. This is the most great mosque in the Maldives - it can accommodate 5 thousand worshipers. Its beautiful wood carvings and examples of Arabic calligraphy attract many admiring tourists.

A 20-minute boat ride from Male (the capital of the Maldives) is Bandos Island. This is a small island with a perimeter of 600 meters. Each of his bungalows stands literally 3 meters from the beach.

Gan Island- most south island The Republic of Maldives is located beyond the equator. Its dimensions are 5 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide.

If the Maldives manages to maintain its reputation as the main center of attraction for divers all over the planet, and manages to preserve everything that it has today, then it will remain such a center forever. Some will come here for relaxation, entertainment and romance, others to devote themselves to exploring the many wonders of the underwater world. And no one, neither nature lovers, nor fans of beaches and massages, nor those who need adrenaline, will be disappointed in the Maldives - wonderful islands at the very edge of the world.

Transport interchange of the Maldives

Transport interchange between the islands is represented by two types of communication - boats and seaplanes. Most of the islands are small enough that you can easily explore them by bicycle. The peculiarity of this type of travel here is that no matter which direction you go, you will always find yourself on the seashore.

1. First of all, you should know that in the Maldives (as in many other countries) it is prohibited to take all kinds of corals, shells, etc. from the sea. Also, it is not allowed to fish near the island, and spearfishing is completely prohibited.

2. One of the important advantages of the Maldives is that there are no mosquitoes or any other unpleasant insects or animals here.

3. When traveling to the Maldives, you should spend at least one night under open air looking at the stars. You can sleep right on the street, because the temperature at night does not drop below 24 degrees.

4. The main value of a holiday in the Maldives is the opportunity to step away from problems and stress.

5. If you decide to go on vacation to the island of Gan, be prepared for the fact that the island cuisine may greatly disappoint you. The thing is that almost no vegetables grow on the island and the hotel chefs have to cook from those products that are delivered here by plane. Often, these are products that are stored for a long time, and therefore lack exquisite taste.

6. Before traveling to the Maldives, it is recommended to get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. To avoid unwanted situations, it is better to take out insurance.

In Indian approx. Forms the territory of the state of Maldives... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

In the Indian Ocean. They form the territory of the state of Maldives. * * * MALDIVES MALDIVES, in the Indian ca. Forms the territory of the state of Maldives... encyclopedic Dictionary

Coordinates: 3°47′00″ N. w. 72°58′00″ E. d. / 3.783333° n. w. 72.966667° E. d. ... Wikipedia

In the Indian Ocean, southwest of the island of Sri Lanka. 26 atolls and St. 1190 small islands fringed by reefs, including 200 inhabited. Pl. 298 km². Numerous beaches. The climate is monsoon. Average month temperatures 24–30 °C. Precipitation approx. 2500 mm per year.… … Geographical encyclopedia

An archipelago of coral islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Hindustan Peninsula. On M. o. The state of the Maldives is located. Port of Male... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

- (Maldive Islands), Republic of Maldives state islands of the Maldives arch. in the Indian Ocean, b. brit, colony. The first post office was opened in 1906 and stamps of Ceylon with the overprint (English) “Maldives” came into circulation. After 3 years of issue... Large philatelic dictionary

IX.12. Maldives- ⇑ IX. SOUTH ASIA…Rulers of the World

This article lacks links to sources of information. Information must be verifiable, otherwise it may be questioned and deleted. You can... Wikipedia

English Mascarene Islands fr. Mascareignes port. Ilhas Mascarenhas ... Wikipedia

Water area ... Wikipedia

Books

• Underwater kingdom. Red Sea, Maldives, Malaysia, Caribbean Sea, Angelo Moggetta, Andrea Ferrari, Antonella Ferrari. Bizarre reefs and coral platforms, high rocks falling straight into the abyss of turquoise water, picturesque straits where life unknown to us is in full swing - we really want to dive into this underwater...
• Underwater kingdom of the Red Sea Maldives, Mogetta A., Ferrari A.. Bizarre reefs and coral platforms, high rocks falling straight into the abyss of turquoise water, picturesque straits - you really want to dive into this underwater paradise, admire its unearthly...

The Republic of Maldives is located in equatorial waters south of India. The state is a chain of atolls that consist of 1,192 islands of coral origin. The capital of the state is Male, the only city in the entire archipelago.

The Maldives were inhabited more than 2 thousand years ago. Twice the Portuguese and the Dutch tried to establish power over the islands, but the local population did not allow this to be done. In 1887, a British protectorate was established over the Maldives. The Maldives was under British rule for more than half a century and finally gained independence in 1965. In 1968, a referendum was held in the country, as a result of which the state became a republic.

Climate and weather

The climate in the Maldives is equatorial, with a predominance of monsoon winds. The northeast monsoon from November to April creates favorable conditions for recreation on the islands. Due to the proximity of the equator, the air temperature is approximately the same throughout the year and does not fall below +25 °C. In April, the southwest monsoon brings humid air masses to the islands. During this period, the Maldives experiences a slight drop in temperature, precipitation and storms.

Nature

The flora in the Maldives is represented by typical tropical vegetation. There are mangroves and fruit trees here. The abundance of vegetation depends on the soil. On some small islands covered with sand, only shrubs and grasses are found. Large islands are rich in vegetation. There is also a real jungle with tropical plants, mangroves, and various types of exotic flowers. But there is one plant in the Maldives that grows everywhere, regardless of the type of soil - the coconut palm.

The fauna of the Maldives is not very diverse. Some species of reptiles live here: snakes, which are not dangerous to humans, lizards. Mosquitoes are found only on wild islands archipelago. Among the insects in the Maldives, butterflies and rhinoceros beetles also live.

The underwater world of the Maldives is much more interesting. On the ocean floor you can find different types of corals and sea ​​creatures, starting from sea ​​urchins and ending with whale sharks.

Attractions

There are not many historical or cultural attractions in the Maldives. The most interesting places located in Male. Here you can visit Sultan Park. Until 1968, the Sultan's palace was located here. Subsequently, the palace was destroyed, and the gardens surrounding the palace were turned into a park.

The Islamic Center is also of interest. This is a large mosque next to the pier. Its interior is decorated with symbols of Arabic calligraphy and wood carvings. It is better to visit the mosque accompanied by one of the local residents: after all, this is a religious building in which special rules of behavior must be observed.

Another attraction of the Maldives is the National Museum, which displays items of clothing and jewelry of the sultans. Also here are the manuscript of the Koran and pre-Islamic statues that were found during archaeological excavations.

Nutrition

The local cuisine is based on Indian and Arabic traditions. Many dishes consist of ingredients such as rice, seafood and spices. The most common sauce is coconut curry; it is added to almost all dishes. There are a variety of fish dishes, for the preparation of which there are hundreds of recipes. Fish is even added to pies. The main side dish is rice, which is cooked with coconut milk, vegetables and even some fruits, such as papaya, bananas, mangoes, and pumpkin. The meat they eat is mostly chicken, but extremely rarely. Coconut is most often served for dessert. Baked goods and fruit salads are also widespread. The drinks here are mainly tea, coffee and various juices.

Accommodation

There are practically no high-rise buildings in the Maldives, with the exception of buildings in Male. Hotels are represented by all kinds of villas, bungalows, chalets, and cottages. All of them are one- and two-story, located separately from each other and have an entrance from the street. In the main building hotel complexes, as a rule, there is a reception, a bar and a restaurant. The tourist houses themselves are located either in the depths of the island, or on the shore, or right on the water. In the latter case, the houses are connected to the land by a wooden bridge, and in some cases the rooms can only be reached by boat. Whatever type of accommodation you choose, they are all different high level service.

Entertainment and relaxation

Mostly people go to the Maldives for beach holiday. However, there are many options here. active rest. For example, lovers of diving and snorkeling can have a great time on the islands. Divers from all over the world come to the Maldives, because the reefs near the islands are home to an incredible variety of marine life of unimaginable colors and shapes. But not only fish and corals attract diving enthusiasts. In the waters surrounding the atolls, there are many sunken ships that are also of interest to divers.

Due to the fact that the Maldives is a Muslim state, many holidays here are of a religious nature. In addition, in the Muslim calendar, almost all holidays “move”, i.e. fall on different dates from year to year. Unchangeable are New Year(January 1), Independence Day (July 26-27), Catholic Christmas(December 25).

Purchases

Most of the shops are located in Male and they specialize in souvenirs. Usually these are products made from coral, shells, and wood. Straw mats are especially popular. Local artisans make and sell beautiful coral jewelry - bracelets, earrings, necklaces. You can also purchase high-quality diving equipment in the Maldives.

Closed days in the Maldives are Friday and Saturday, respectively, shops are open from Sunday to Thursday from 7:30 to 21:00 or from 9:00 to 22:00. During prayers, which are performed 5 times a day, shops are closed, but if you are there at this time, it is not necessary to leave the trading floor.

Transport

The international airport is located in Male. At all air Transport It is widespread on the islands, which is due to the peculiar geography of the archipelago. Air transport is represented by seaplanes and helicopters. In addition, transportation is carried out on sailing, motor boats and boats. Public transport in the Maldives does not exist in principle. Although there are taxis in Male. Its peculiarity is that if the car stops for more than a minute, then the trip is considered over and must be paid. On the islands it is possible to rent a boat or speedboat. This will cost an average of $140.

Connection

Mobile communications in the Maldives are well developed. You can use your operator for calls if you activate roaming, but it is cheaper to purchase a SIM card from a local mobile operator. The cost per minute of connection is on average $0.5. The Maldives is divided into several telephone zones, and the cost of calls from one zone to another is higher than within one zone.

Safety

After political parties were allowed in the country, rallies and demonstrations often began to take place on the streets of Male. It is not safe for tourists, although street crimes are extremely rare in the Maldives. To increase security, the law obliges all hotels to provide guests with a safe for storing documents, money and jewelry. If you discover that you have something missing, you should inform the manager, who must record your request in writing. The manager will then conduct his own investigation and, if necessary, contact the police.

When traveling to the Maldives, you must be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and yellow fever. In addition, it is necessary to take out medical insurance, because any treatment in the country is paid.

Business climate

If you wish, you can open your own small business in the Maldives. The most popular destinations are the hotel and restaurant business. You can also organize a diving center or yacht club. However, the country's government is reluctant to hand over business to foreigners, preferring to do it on its own. This is due to the fact that when the Maldives was just discovered as new tourist destination, attempts by foreigners to create here travel business, as a rule, ended in failure.

The tax system in the Maldives is considered one of the simplest in the world. There is no VAT or income tax here.

Real estate

Due to the very small area of ​​the state, real estate prices in the Maldives are very high. In addition, there is a moratorium on the purchase of real estate by foreigners. Instead, the state proposes to take out real estate for a long-term lease. The minimum term of such an agreement is 35 years, the maximum is 50 years. Mostly villas are rented; it is extremely difficult to rent an apartment on the islands. If you manage to find a suitable apartment, then you will have to pay at least $300,000 for it. Most of the villas for rent are luxury housing. The cost of such housing starts from $350,0000.

Since the Maldives is a Muslim state, this imposes some obligations on tourists. You should not appear in public places in revealing outfits. Topless swimming on the wrecks is strictly prohibited and will result in a fine. Drinking alcoholic beverages is prohibited in public places. The state has a ban on catching and exporting corals unless they were purchased in a souvenir shop. In restaurants it is customary to leave a tip, the amount of which is 10% of the order value.

Visa information

Citizens Russian Federation no visa required. The Russian consulate closest to the Maldives is located on the island of Sri Lanka.

After the vacation I couldn’t find the strength to talk about it. I gathered my thoughts and tell you.

Who owns the Maldives?
No one, this is an independent state located on 2000 islands, right on the equator (only a hundred islands are inhabited). The country is run by a president. Religion is strict Islam. Population - 300 thousand people, mostly descendants of the Dravidians (ancient Australian population of South Asia), who are colloquially referred to as “black Hindus”. Tourism and fishing are the main sources of income for the treasury.

Are there cities there?
There is, but only one, it’s the capital. The main problem of the country is that all the islands are very small, there is nowhere to build cities. The city of Male is located on one of the largest islands (it is also called Male). Airport - on neighboring island, 15 minutes by ferry. Male is built up very densely; in terms of population density, this island ranks second in the world after one of the islands of Hong Kong. 100 thousand people live in Male, a third of the population of the Maldives. There are practically no one-story houses; they are built with 5-6 floors; there are also 10-story buildings. There are a lot of cars on the island, including jeeps and trucks, although everywhere there is normal asphalt, and the entire perimeter of the island can be walked around in an hour. Sports cars were especially surprising, because in Male it is difficult to accelerate faster than 40 km/h. Typical street:

Why is everything so expensive there?
Everything is very expensive, because each island is self-sufficient. Male has its own large thermal power plant, while the islands have only small diesel power plants. There are wells on Male, and on other islands there are desalination plants, just like on Tatooine from “ Star Wars" And all the water in the water supply comes from desalination plants. On the tourist islands, all products are imported, including fish and fruits (nothing grows except coconuts). The Maldives does not have its own factories for the production of, say, drinks - bottled drinks are from abroad. To get from island to island, you need to overcome many kilometers of ocean surface, and trips on high-speed boats and, especially, on seaplanes are also not cheap. Prices for tourists in Sri Lanka, where I visited on the same trip, are one and a half to two times lower than those in the Maldives.

Is it really heaven on earth?
Depends on how you imagine heaven. In any case, paradise is not in Male, but on the tourist islands. One island, according to the unwritten rule of the Maldives, is one hotel. The tourist lives in a bungalow, a simple one-story structure, the splendor of which depends on the “star rating” of the hotel. From the bungalows there is direct access to a snow-white beach with clear water, surrounded by expanses of the ocean, coconut palms and helpful hotel workers. Food and drinks in bars and restaurants. For some, Crimea is a paradise. On the beach:

What about pristine nature?
Don't lie: there is a lot of nature. Multi-colored equatorial fish and fatty tuna swim in the sea next to you. We saw a reef shark at a depth of one and a half meters on the very first day. We didn’t notice moray eels and stingrays, but we heard about them. The sand is strewn with pieces of coral; you can admire the living ones by diving with a mask. Huge crabs swarm on the beach in the evening. There was a palm-sized tropical cockroach and lizards walking around the bathroom. Most of all I liked the unafraid herons, ignoring the beachgoers, and the flying foxes - huge the bats(wingspan more than a meter), hanging on trees and flying overhead at dusk. Foxes do not drink blood, but love fruits.
Tourists are urged to take care of the local nature. If you offend a fish, you will receive a fine of several hundred dollars. At the same time, locals fish with impunity anywhere and any kind. The central sewerage on Male and other islands flows directly into the ocean. Since there are no incinerators in the Maldives, garbage is also drowned in the sea. But, of course, they are in no hurry to tell tourists about this.

What other pitfalls are there?
An ordinary tourist coming to the Maldives does not see the country - he is taken from the airport to the island hotel, and then back. I, as a curious tourist, spent a day and a half in the capital. Few people know that the Maldives has its own currency, “rufiyaa,” because hotels accept payments in dollars. Since the water supply on the islands is connected to desalination plants, if they break down, the entire island is deprived of not only a shower, but also food - there is nothing to wash the dishes with. Yes, remember what I said about strict Islam? The import of alcohol into the country is prohibited, that is, it is useless to buy a bag of booze at Moscow duty-free - they will take it away at the entrance. Alcohol is only available in tourist hotels on the islands, and at exorbitant prices ($7 for a pint of bad beer, $5 for 50g of whiskey). In Male they do not sell alcohol at all, but there is a wide range of “non-alcoholic beer”. It tastes like lemonade with lemonade. Here, for example, is Holsten's choice (Holsten is not local, but brewed in Hamburg especially for the Maldives!):

The flight to the Maldives is 8.5 hours; direct flights from Moscow are operated only by Transaero, twice a week. Is it worth it? Well, I always wanted to know what it was like - paradise life on the islands. Found out. There's nothing to do there. :)

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

The Maldives amazes with its endless ocean, amazing underwater caves and reefs. The tropical virgin nature surrounding you evokes peace and comfort on the island. Culture stopped at the primitive level, and local residents still respect their traditions.

Biggest coral island in the Maldives - Kafu, on it stands the city of Male, which is considered the smallest capital and the most populated city. Male is so small in size that you can walk around it in a couple of hours.

Sights of the Maldives

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

The city of Male is home to the Good Friday Mosque, famous for its golden dome. Next to it are the graves of both national heroes and members of ruling families. It is worth paying attention to the Islamic Center, which is located nearby. It is considered the largest Maldives, because it can accommodate about 5,000 people at the same time.

Local markets are also not far behind in popularity; there are several types of them - vegetable, fruit and craft markets, where island residents sell handmade crafts.

Many tourists are attracted to the Maldives for its unsurpassed diving. Undersea world The peninsula is striking in its diversity of inhabitants, at the same time, coral reefs scare away predators and swimming underwater is not at all dangerous.

Paradise for newlyweds

For most tourists, the Maldives is one of the most romantic places on the planet. That’s why newlyweds and lovers are the first to go to the islands. What's it worth? wedding ceremony on white sand during sunset and decorated around with palm leaves. If you discuss your wedding with the hotel in advance, you can get a discount and stay in the best bungalow. The Maldives is suitable not only for the wedding ceremony, but also for the honeymoon. After all, holidays here are unique and unusual. On the beach you can see both young people and families with children or even older people.