Show Sri Lanka and the Maldives on the map. Where are the Maldives? Vacationers can visit

But to the question: - Where are the Maldives? not everyone will be able to give the correct answer. Meanwhile, finding their location is not at all difficult. Pick up a map and find the Indian Ocean. Two parallel chains of islands, southwest of India and near the equator, are the coveted Maldives.

A little geography

Exotic coral islands stretch from north to south for 820 kilometers. The total area of ​​the Maldives is 90 thousand square kilometers, but only 298 square kilometers are allocated to land, the rest of the territory is occupied by the sea. The coral atolls comprise 1,192 stunning islands, of which 994 are uninhabited.

The population of the paradise country is 393 thousand people, who settled on two hundred islands. About half of them hospitably welcome tourists from all over the world, who know very well where the Maldives are on the world map and strive to come here as often as possible. The islands are very small, several square kilometers, so there is no more than one hotel on each of them. Blue transparent lagoons, amazing sandy beaches, unique vegetation and the highest level of service make your holiday here delightful and unforgettable.

Weather

Where are the Maldives? Where there is no winter. The subequatorial monsoon climate provides an average annual temperature of 24-30 degrees. From November to March there is dry, warm weather and the thermometer does not drop below 17 degrees. There are rains, rough seas and temperatures of 30-32 degrees. It is pleasant to swim here all year round, because the water temperature constantly remains at the same level - 24-27 degrees.

Flora and fauna

A distinctive feature of the animal world is the complete absence of poisonous reptiles. And you don’t even have to worry about a dog bite here; keeping these animals is prohibited by law. But quite a short distance from the shore you can see a huge whale shark, but, as you know, giants feed only on plankton, so those who want to swim can do so without fear.

Fans of exotic fruits simply need to know where the Maldives are, because there are a great variety of them here. The unique climate allows you not to lack vitamins all year round.

Coconuts, bananas, mangoes, papaya, and pineapples delight tourists and natives with their juicy pulp. Everywhere the delicate aroma of orchids, hibiscus, roses, their variety and variety amazes the imagination.

Calmness, silence and complete unity with nature allow you to completely detach yourself from existing problems and give yourself a good rest.

Smallest capital

The city of Male is recognized as the smallest capital in the world, because it covers an area of ​​only 2.5 square kilometers. This is a tiny cozy town, the main attractions of which are the Good Friday Mosque with a sparkling golden dome, the National Museum located in the Sultan's Park, the Presidential Palace and the legendary burial places of the Maldivian saints. There are no noisy entertainment venues here, but you can stroll along the picturesque embankment, enjoy the aroma of flowers in a shady park, and visit unique vegetable and craft markets. Everything in this country is subject to the laws of nature, and, probably, sometimes it’s even good to take a break from the hustle and bustle of big cities in such a cozy and calm place.

Visa and customs control

Where the Maldives is located is well known to those who have visited this wonderful exotic corner and will probably visit it again.

To travel here you do not need to visit consular offices -.

You can vacation here for 30 days, this is exactly the period indicated on the tourist visa, which is placed in your passport free of charge upon arrival in the country. Customs can check whether you comply with the rules that prohibit import:

• drugs;
• pork products;
• animals;
• alcohol;
• anti-Islamic literature;
• pornographic products;
• military attributes.

In addition, when going on an exotic vacation, you should remember that nudism and toplessness are prohibited in this Muslim country, and women, when visiting the capital and areas where aborigines live, should not wear beachwear; knees and shoulders must be covered.

The attractiveness of the Maldives

The prohibitions and restrictions that are important for local residents and not at all burdensome for us do not in any way detract from the advantages of relaxing in this fabulous country. Now you know that the Maldives is where the transparency of the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, exotic fruits and the aroma of exquisite flowers, spreading palm trees and schools of colorful fish, calm silence and solitude on a small colorful island in the middle of the ocean expanse. The Maldives is paradise on earth, pleasure and bliss that you can give yourself.

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Where are the Maldives on the world map and the Indian Ocean

We often hear that the best vacation is a vacation on the islands. And you know, anyone who has vacationed on the islands will definitely confirm this. It’s beautiful there, gorgeous beaches, far from the “mainland”, no noise, clean air... there are a lot of advantages and advantages, but there are few islands. One of the most beloved and visited are the Maldives. On the world map you need to look for them in the Indian Ocean, south of India. The capital of the atolls is Male, and the population does not exceed half a million inhabitants.

Geography: where are the Maldives?

As we have already written, the Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka is approximately 700 kilometers away. About the same distance to the coast of India.
The Republic of Maldives is a chain of 26 atolls, and they in turn consist of 1192 coral islands. Surprisingly, the Maldives is the lowest located state! The highest point is located at an altitude of approximately 2.4 meters above sea level. That is, in fact, any medium wave can easily flood the entire state.
The capital of the islands is Male. This is generally the only city on the islands. Most of the inhabitants of the archipelago live here.

As we said, the closest neighbors are Sri Lanka and India. And then there is only a huge endless ocean! The coast of Africa is almost five thousand kilometers, and Australia is even more, about seven thousand kilometers.

Climate and weather

Due to its geographical location, the Maldives is hot all year round. The air temperature ranges from +24 to +30 degrees depending on the month. The lowest temperature is recorded in winter, when at night the air can cool down to +17, and the highest temperature occurs in May, and it is +32 degrees.
The dry season lasts from November to March, and the rainy season runs from June to August.

Undersea world

The underwater world off the coast of the Maldives is very diverse. Of course, this is the Indian Ocean!
Coral reefs are home to more than 1,100 species of fish. There are five species of sea turtles, 21 species of whales and dolphins and many, many other marine inhabitants.
No wonder this place is so loved by diving enthusiasts. Any diving off the coast of the Maldives is always a beautiful adventure and incredible views. A lot of interesting and scientific videos are filmed here. Expeditions take place here all the time. If you are coming here on vacation, then at least once, it is worth diving under the water with scuba diving.

A third of the islands' entire economy comes from tourism, which accounts for 28% of the state's total GDP
- the state sells its products for 125 million dollars, and buys other products for 1.2 billion dollars
- Most of the export is fish. This product accounts for about 70% of all sales
- any island in the Maldives can be crossed on foot in two hours
- many of the islands of the archipelago are uninhabited

The Maldives (Republic of Maldives) is a country that is geographically a chain of atolls in the Indian Ocean. To find where the Maldives are located, you need to find India on the map and draw a line from the lowest point of India to the highest point of Madagascar. On this line along the map, slightly down and to the left of the southern point of India, the capital of the Maldives, Male, will be located.

The Maldives stretches for almost 1000 km from north to south. Male is located approximately in the center of this chain.

Relatively close to the Maldives are India and Sri Lanka, 600 and 670 km respectively. But the distance from the Maldives to its nearest neighbor in the west of the Seychelles is 2230 km. The distance to Mauritius from the Maldives is 3320 km.

Visa to Maldives

When tourists first come to the Maldives, located on atolls, they have difficulty understanding where the reef is, where the lagoons are, where the inland waters are, where the ocean is. The Maldives is a completely different world, and you need to make an effort to understand it.

How atolls were formed in the Maldives

Currently, the hypothesis for the development of atolls is as follows. Under all the Maldives islands and atolls there are extinct volcanoes.

In the underwater part of the volcano, corals develop on its slopes. Volcanoes gradually go under water, and corals stretch upward. Then the volcano goes completely under water and a lagoon is formed - an internal body of water formed above an extinct volcano.

This is a simplified diagram; the Maldives atolls are very complex in structure. Those small atolls where tourists usually live are located on the edges of a large atoll and have their own shallow lagoons. In the diagram they are called resort lagoons. Also, hotels or residential communities are often located on islands that do not have their own lagoons. Islands may be located within a large lagoon, or on the ring of a large reef. Islands are created when a reef grows above the water and a layer of fertile soil is applied to it. Islands where fresh water is found become inhabited.

The reef, which has a pale blue appearance when viewed from above, lies under a thin layer of water and is often exposed at low tides. In a large lagoon the depth can reach 20-30 meters, and in shallow lagoons the water will reach waist level even at high tide.

Coral reef at low tide

Coral reef underwater

In the photo below you can see two small atolls. These are atolls formed along the edges of a reef. The island in the photo is called Thilafushi and is part of the North Male Atoll.

The same area on Yandex maps allows you to see that Thilafushi Island is located on a small atoll, which is part, figuratively speaking, a bead in the necklace of a huge atoll - North Male Atoll.

The size of North Male Atoll is 70 by 40 km. 27 islands of this atoll are given over to hotels, 8 islands are for fishing. Maldivians are forced to crowd onto patches of land. Therefore, their capital is on one island, the airport is on another, and fuel is stored on a third.

Hotels in the Maldives are most often located on the principle of one island, one hotel. The islands are very small and many of them can be easily walked around in an hour. Communication is carried out by boats to the hotels closest to the airport and by seaplanes to distant atolls.

Maldives Map

The diving diagram clearly shows that the Maldives are located on an underwater ridge, with many islands inside the atolls. On the right is a detailed map of the Maldives.

According to various estimates, the Maldives has from 1200 to 2000 islands. 1200 - if you count the islands with vegetation. Of these, 200 islands are officially inhabited. But in reality there is much more, since the 200 inhabited islands do not include hotel islands where people do not live permanently. The Maldives is a kingdom of water. 99.6% of the country's territory is occupied by water.

There are about 20 large atolls in the Maldives. There is some confusion - as there are traditional, new names and letter designations of the Maldivian atolls. Below the maps is a list of these names. The new names are nothing more than the names of letters in the Dhivehi alphabet. The northernmost atoll is designated A, and you need to look for it at the top of the map, the southernmost atoll of the Maldives is designated S and is located at the bottom of the map.

Names of atolls in the Maldives

One cannot but agree that among all the variety of tourist routes, one of the most idyllic holiday destinations is geographically located where the Maldives are located.

About the Maldives

The Maldives combines everything that a vacationer wants to fully enjoy from a vacation - relaxation on a sandy beach, an even tan in the rays of the gentle sun, emotions from the opportunity to feel like a surfer or diver, impressions of getting to know the local culture. The Maldives is a place where temperatures remain high all season long, where many coral islands combine to form a perfect representation of paradise on Earth, and where there is a very subtle sense of unity with the surrounding nature. What does the average tourist know about this unique country?

Maldives

Location of the Republic

The Republic of Maldives, being an island state, is recognized as a democratic republic with its own local flavor and traditions.

Everyone has heard about the best beach holiday destination, but few people know where the Maldives are. But it is the location that allows Maldivian resorts to remain in the top tourist sales both in 2018 and earlier. It is not so easy to find answers to the questions of where the Maldives are located, in what country, on what continent, since the islands are so small and so scattered that they cannot be immediately found on a geographical map. But if you look at South Asia right at the equator, a whole range of islands will open to the tourist’s eye in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. They are united under the common name of the Maldives, where initially it was the foothills of the volcanic island mountains that formed the coral islands.

The volcanic past of the islands has given the whole world amazingly beautiful blue lagoons, endless beaches, unique vegetation and a rich underwater world. The opportunity to feel a sense of unity with nature, find out what the sea is like in the Maldives, and also look at the endless and majestic ocean - all this is given to every tourist by a trip to the Maldives.

National characteristics of the Maldives

The Maldives is a country of strict rules, even with all its relaxing tourist atmosphere. The local population is always ready to help, show attentiveness, provide the proper level of service, and express peacefulness in the best traditions of island hospitality. But the peculiarities of religious traditions require guests to follow certain rules.

The Muslim religion imposes a mandatory ban on the consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially in public places. In addition, before setting off, you should carefully consider the fact that it is prohibited to import alcohol to the Maldives.

Important! Very serious attention should be paid to issues of clothing - adhering to local rules, not to expose yourself too much, showing off your body.

Respect is also required for their national symbols. Maldivians are especially sensitive to the flag and coat of arms, as well as the national flower - the rose. They consider the coconut palm to be the national tree, and the national animal, the tuna, is protected by the state.

Local residents preserve unique national characteristics, speaking among themselves a mixture of different languages, including Arabic. Dhivehi, which is close to the Indo-Aryan group, is also considered the national language.

Note! Locals prefer to speak English with tourists.

Subtleties of tourism in the Maldives

A huge number of islands offer tourists the opportunity to have a quality holiday. Hotels, villas, and bungalows offer vacationers everything they need for comfort. Even such a frequently occurring problem when traveling as the issue with sockets will not disturb the tourist here, because everything is thought out in advance.

Each resort region of the Maldives can show tourists an ideal beach holiday, but you shouldn’t expect a variety of attractions. In the Maldives, beaches are considered a national treasure; their cleanliness and beauty are unrivaled. Among the Maldivian cities that can somehow diversify a lazy holiday on snow-white pristine beaches with walks along the promenade and excursion routes to iconic places, only the capital Male stands out. Often travel agencies initially include a visit to it in the itinerary.

Note! The island of Maafushi, which belongs to a budget destination, is very popular among Russian tourists.

It is also called the Russian Maldives. Here you have the opportunity to have a good holiday, learn local traditions and life in the Maldives from the inside, and bring home memories of the Maldivians’ tastes and preferences. You can experience the authenticity of the Maldivians through local cuisine. Both large hotels and ordinary catering places will give you the opportunity to get acquainted with local delicacies, and even to the sound of their music. A variety of fruits will help you feel all the sweetness of your holiday: from the well-known coconuts and bananas to exotic papaya, mango and guava.

It is also important for every tourist to be able to bring something memorable from their vacation. The Maldives, what a country it is - sunny, open and hospitable, so are the souvenirs, filled with light and island flavor. They usually bring brightly painted clothes, water equipment, jewelry, teas and delicacies for themselves or as gifts. The export of corals and any items made from them, as well as turtle shells, is strictly prohibited.

Important! Since danger in the Maldives can only come from the depths of the sea, tourists do not have to worry about their safety.

Undersea world

The main rule here is compliance with basic rules. When diving, it is important to remember that you should not touch anything. This will help avoid many problems. Whale sharks, common in the coastal waters of the Maldives, are completely safe for vacationers. Being the largest fish on the planet, they do not pose a danger to people, because they feed only on plankton. You should be extremely careful when swimming on wild beaches. This is especially true when swimming among dangerous marine life. These include stone fish, whose poison poses a serious threat to human life, sea urchins and stingrays. Swimming on coral beaches should be done in special shoes that can protect your feet from injuries that can easily be caused by coral debris.

Note! Being an island nation, the Maldives is prone to tsunamis.

The worst tsunami occurred in 2004. But for now, this natural disaster is not affecting the Maldives. The state is fully concerned about the protection of its vacationers and local residents, and creates programs to protect coral reefs that save the islands from sea currents.

Additional Information! When going on a trip to the Maldives, especially on your own, it is important to know the time zone in which they are located and how much time it will be in the Maldives upon arrival at the country’s airport. Time in the Maldives is measured according to a single time zone, which refers to GMT +05:00. In the Maldives, time is not converted to summer and winter. The difference with Moscow is +2 hours.

Another important issue for tourists is currency. The national currency in the Maldives is the rufiyaa. The current exchange rate of rufiyaa to the ruble is 4.35, and to the dollar 0.065*.

This is interesting:

• It is important to remember that the Maldives is a Muslim country with a special attitude towards wealth. Showing it off is considered bad form, so there is an opinion that the more simply a person is dressed, the richer he is.
• In the Maldives, there is something like a morality police that protects religious preferences, namely Sunni Islam. Other religious propaganda carries penalties up to and including actual prison time.
• Pigs are not bred in the country; moreover, dogs are also considered “unclean animals”. The exception is shepherd dogs that serve in the police. Bringing a pet to the Maldives is strictly prohibited. Anyone who violates this rule may face not only a serious fine, but also placement in a sanitary zone at the airport.
• Unlike our generally accepted working week, the Maldivian one differs in that weekdays are from Sunday to Thursday. Maldivians rest on Friday and Saturday; these days are considered official days off.
• Since the reserves of fresh water in the Maldives are insignificant, even rich residents collect it in any available container during rain.
• It is interesting that the Maldivian airport is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean on an artificially created island.
• Not only local residents, but also guests are prohibited from swimming naked on the islands. The only exception where this can be done is the island of Kuramati.

Kuramati Island

When organizing an independent trip to the Maldives, it is important to remember that there is no possibility to rent a car, and even using a bicycle is problematic. Local transport will also not help you get to your destination, as it is not particularly developed. Some islands are so small that you can walk around them. To help tourists, there are only speedboats and boats that organize communication between the islands.

The most important issue when organizing a tour to the Maldives is, of course, air travel. If the trip is not organized through an agency, then purchasing tickets should not be delayed for months. It is very rare on flight organizing services, but there are still sales on popular destinations. The number of tickets is strictly limited, so don't rely on luck. You can save money by subscribing to mailing lists of services that offer discounts and early flight bookings. The most expensive flight to the Maldives for two will be from December to April - this is the most popular time, when everyone goes on vacation to the islands en masse. To reduce the price for this period, you can find a suitable ticket six months before departure. There are no direct flights; transfers are often made through the Turkish direction, but there are many other options. You can fly not only from Moscow; the flight takes on average 11 hours.

Despite the long flight, the Maldives is a fairy tale that is worth plunging into from our reality, at least for a while.

*The prices indicated in the article are current as of January 2018.

“Maldives” - the very name of these islands sounds like some kind of wondrous music, and a picture of a serene paradise beach instantly appears in everyone’s mind. But it seems that many of us are not very clear about where exactly Maldives is located on the world map. Let me quickly fill this small gap :)

The Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean very close to the equator. Almost at the equator. The easiest way to find them on the map is like this:

• India (Hindustan Peninsula) - slightly lower and to the right (i.e. closer to the equator and east) -
• the large island of Sri Lanka - and now to the left (west) -
• Maldives!

The Maldives are located 700 kilometers west of Sri Lanka. The Maldives is an archipelago that consists of more than twenty atolls. An atoll, in the case of the Maldives, is a group of small islands of coral origin that form a ring. The islands most likely have a volcanic “history”: it is believed that there were once ancient volcanoes here, overgrown with coral reefs, and then they were gradually flooded by the waters of the Indian Ocean.

The coral islands that form the atolls are perfectly visible from the plane: intricate outlines, spots of turquoise lagoons on the blue surface of the ocean.

There are no large, large islands in the Maldives archipelago. Even the airport had to be built on a separate island: on the island of Male, where the capital of the republic is located, it did not fit;) Even the largest islands are no more than two kilometers long.

The position of the Maldives on the world map near the equator is, of course, determined by the climate. It is soft and warm here, truly tropical. Although the sun in the Maldives is very hot, there is no unbearable forty-degree heat. The usual temperature is +28. On clear days the sun may be a few degrees higher. But hardly more than +33. Add to this the fresh breath of the ocean. You may not even feel the heat, but sunburn on your skin is a must if you don’t use sunscreen! The tropical sun is dangerous; you can easily get sunburned even in water. You will sunbathe even under clouds in cloudy weather and in the shade under palm trees.

The air and water temperatures remain virtually unchanged throughout the year. The Maldives has a high season (from about October to April) and a low season (from May to September), which differ in that during the low season it sometimes rains and the sea can be rough. Tour operator websites claim that severe storms and tsunamis are extremely rare in the Maldives. However, for example, the island of Villivaru is now closed to visitors because the hotel that was there was destroyed by the tsunami in 2004. Of course, this is not a reason to refuse a trip, but if you are going fishing or diving in the open ocean, check the weather forecast in advance .

In the Maldives there are no mountains, no hills, no boulders and large stones, there is essentially no soil here (that dark-colored fertile layer to which we are accustomed), there is only sand. The highest point in the Maldives is 2.4 meters. If global warming is really coming, if the glaciers are really melting and the water level in the World Ocean is rising, then the Maldives will disappear from the world map. And perhaps this will happen in a few decades.

The Maldives is something truly extraordinary and unforgettable! It's worth visiting here at least once in your life! Of course, these are paradise islands, beautiful landscapes, water of absolutely delightful shades, palm trees gracefully bending towards the water, soft snow-white sand, but perhaps the most important wonders here are hidden under the water - this is the amazing underwater living world of the Indian Ocean! And now you can definitely find the Maldives on the map, right?)

You might also be interested in: How to have an inexpensive holiday in the Maldives | Dangers in the Maldives | Alcohol in the Maldives | Photos of the Maldives - islands and beaches