What is the name of the sea in the Maldives. South Male Atoll. Flag of the Republic of Maldives

Location map Maldives.

The Maldives is a coral archipelago located in the northern part of the Indian archipelago south of the Hindustan Peninsula, about seven hundred kilometers southwest of the island of Sri Lanka (Ceylon).

The archipelago of the Maldives is a sprawling chain of 20 coral atolls divided into over 1,100 small islands. Among the large and significant atolls, Mimu Atoll should be singled out, South Male Atoll, North Male Atoll, Fafu Atoll (North Niland), Laviyani Atoll, Dhaalu Atoll (Dhaalu Atoll), Ari Atoll, Baa Atoll, Addu Atoll (Sinu Atoll or Senu Atoll).

total area The landmass of all the islands and reefs of the archipelago is just over 298 km².

On the islands of the Maldives archipelago, the state of the Republic of Maldives is located, which is colloquially called the Maldives (the name Republic of the Maldives was found in Soviet literature).

One of the islands of the atoll, which is a resort complex.

Story.

In the pre-European period of the history of the archipelago, it was known from time immemorial to the peoples who inhabited Hindustan and Ceylon, it was from there that their settlement began over two thousand years ago by the Dravidian tribes, as evidenced by the culture of the current inhabitants of the islands. At the end of the fifth - beginning of the sixth centuries AD, Persian and Arab merchants and seafarers began to appear on the islands. It was the Arabs who brought Islam to the island in the twelfth century, which supplanted the previously prevailing Buddhism.

For Europeans, the archipelago was discovered in 1517 during one of the expeditions of the Portuguese following to India. From the end of 1522, the Portuguese began to show an increased interest in the islands, and in 1558 they captured part of the islands and built a fort, which later became known as Male.

The dominion of the Portuguese on the islands of the archipelago was accompanied by mass uprisings of the local population, as a result of one of them in 1573 the rebels defeated the fort and its garrison.

After a failed attempt to capture the islands by the Dutch, at the end of 1887, Britain announced the establishment of its protectorate over the islands.

After mass demonstrations by the population of the Maldives against British rule in the middle of 1965, Great Britain announced the granting of independence to the archipelago.

At the end of 1968, as a result of a popular referendum, the Republic of Maldives was proclaimed.

Almost dictatorial presidential rule in the Maldives led to mass riots in 2004 and a military coup in which India intervened, which allowed for democratic reforms in the country.

One of the islands near the capital atoll.

Origin and geography of the island.

In view of the rather large extent of the archipelago, we present geographical coordinates one of the largest and most important atolls, which hosts the capital of the state: 3°28′36″ s. sh. 72°50′12″ E d.

The total area of ​​the islands, as noted earlier, is 298 km², the total area of ​​the country, which includes coastal waters included in the economic zone, exceeds 90 thousand square kilometers.

By their origin, the islands of the archipelago are coral, formed as a result of coral deposits and sporades.

The relief of the islands is typical for most atolls, low-lying, without rocks that form hills. The shape of the islands is mostly round with deep inland lagoons and bays.

It is no wonder that the highest point of the islands, located on Addu Atoll (Sienu Atoll), is only 2.4 m above sea level.

An island in Baa Atoll.

Climate.

The islands of the archipelago have a pronounced monsoonal subequatorial climate. IN winter time, and this is approximately from mid-November to early March, warm and dry monsoons blow from northeast direction, bringing warm and dry weather to the islands. During the summer period from June to August, the direction of the monsoons changes to the southwest, which brings rain. The islands of the archipelago are hot throughout the year with average temperature 25-30°C. If we take into account maximum values temperatures, then in winter it is never colder than +17 ° C, and in summer it is never hotter than 32-33 ° C.

Population.

The number of the local population of the archipelago, excluding guests of the country and tourists, is approximately 400 thousand people. Almost all the populations of the archipelago ethnic composition these are the descendants of immigrants from the Middle East, South and South-East Asia. State language The Republic of Maldives recognizes the Dhivehi language, which is an amazing hybrid of Arabic dialects, Sinhalese and English. The writing of the Dhivehi language has a basis borrowed from the Arabic-Persian script.

The capital of the Republic of Maldives is the port town of Male, located on the two islands of Vilingile and Male almost in the middle of the coral sporades of the archipelago. The population of the capital exceeds 105 thousand people. It should be noted that other major cities not in the country.

The capital of the Republic of Maldives is the city of Male.

The Maldives is a presidential republic. The head of state is the president, elected by the parliament and approved by a popular referendum, he leads the cabinet of ministers and forms it at his own discretion.

The monetary unit of the Republic of Maldives is the Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR, code 462), put into circulation in February 1966 and consisting of 100 laari. The exchange rate of the Maldivian rufiyaa to the US dollar is approximately 15 to 1.

Flora and fauna.

Like most islands of coral origin, coconut and banana palms and breadfruit grow in the Maldives. There are no large mammals on the islands; livestock is not even bred. To the natives local fauna bats and flying foxes should be included. On the islands in large quantities multi-colored lizards, palm squirrels, very reminiscent of our rats, live. Of the birds, a huge number of species of parrots and more than 30 species of cormorants and sea gulls nesting in the shallow waters of some islands should be distinguished.

Coastal waters are teeming with a wide variety of life forms. The coral reefs that form the islands of the archipelago are home to a great variety of mollusks, several species starfish(including quite rare ones), lobsters and crabs. More than 700 species of fish live in the coastal waters of the Maldives, conventionally divided into reef and ocean.

Diving in the Maldives.

Tourism.

Maldives real paradise for tourists from all over the world. The islands are especially attractive for tourists due to stable weather without seasonal changes, azure-clear lagoons with sandy beaches, and the diversity of coastal waters. Here you can have a good rest, sunbathing on the beaches and swimming in the warm clear sea, diving, getting acquainted with the culture of the local population.

Almost everyone organizes tours to the Maldives travel agencies anywhere in the world. There should not be any special problems with visiting the country, since this does not require a visa or an invitation, all this is possible with a foreign passport.

Tourist and hotel complex on one of the islands Ari atoll.

This question is asked by those who have already bought the long-awaited one or are just going to look for tickets and prepare for the trip. Everyone has heard about this amazing resort, the leader among the giants of a beach holiday, and you have probably seen photos from the best beaches and hotels more than once. The Maldives is an 8.5 hour flight from Moscow to Male. This Island state located in South Asia in the middle of the Indian Ocean near the equator. It is this geographical position of the Maldives and the equatorial climate that provide perfect weather for a beach holiday all year round in any season.

For selection best hotel, it is worth understanding where the Maldives are located, where the capital Male and the international airport are located and where you have to go to rest. I hope I have already convinced you of the importance of understanding geographical location Maldives? Then go!

The geography of the Maldives is so interesting that when you start to study it, you immediately understand why the widespread "lostness" of the Maldives is not accidental. They are so small that they are practically invisible to the eye. geographical map. And many people often do not know what the Maldives is. Some of them seriously think that this is not a whole country, but one small island(for example, as part of Chile) with magnificent beaches and hotels.

Where is Male

Male(Male) is the capital of the Republic of Maldives. Male is located in the very center of the country on a fairly large and densely populated island. It is part of northern atoll Male (Kaafu). Thousands of tourists visit the Maldives every day international Airport Male (its code is MLE), located on the neighboring island of Hulule.

Good to know:

• See cheap flights to Male via link →
• Ready tour to the Maldives can be found on the website

Male City is the financial, administrative and transport center of the Maldives. There are many significant cultural attractions, modern hospitals, shops, restaurants, banks and a post office.

Male Island associated with many inhabited islands in the Maldives various types transport - ferry crossings, speedboats and local air travel by conventional aircraft and seaplanes.

Male on the world map

Where are the Maldives Resorts located?

Not all islands in the Maldives are inhabited. Of the nearly 1200 individual islands, only about 200 are inhabited by people or given over to resorts. The Maldives are located both south and north of the capital Male. Some of them can be reached by speed boat or ferry, while others are so far away that tourists fly to them either by seaplane (air taxi) or regular flights domestic airlines.

If you have already chosen your hotel, then on the map of the atolls you can understand where approximately it is located (see map). And for those who still choose, it will be interesting to keep in mind:

• The island resort closest to the airport in the Maldives is a famous hotel Kurumba. It is very popular among Russian tourists, and for good reason, because the rest there, judging by the reviews, is simply magnificent!
• The farthest island in the south where he lives local population- This Gan(Addu Atoll). Maldives Airlines fly there from Male. Near the island of Gan is a magnificent resort on the equator. Who has not dreamed of relaxing right under the sun? There is such an opportunity in the Maldives. look

This small country located on 20 atolls in the equatorial Indian Ocean. More than 2000 km separates the Islamic Republic from India. The distance to Sri Lanka is much less: if you look at the Maldives on the world map, you can see that the states are about 700 km apart from each other.

Island Information

The state of Maldives is formed by almost 2000 coral islands. About 400 thousand people live here, and Islam is the dominant religion. Total area Republic of Maldives is 90 thousand km 2, however, no more than 300 km 2 falls on the share of land from it.

Interestingly, the only city and port of the country is its capital, Male, located on the atoll of the same name. The remaining islets are almost uninhabited and only occasionally there are hotels on them.

The time in the Maldives is UTC +5, so when flying, you should prepare in advance for changing time zones.

Monthly weather in the Maldives

Climate features are determined by the location of the Maldives. It belongs to the subequatorial monsoon type, so the weather is drastically different in the dry and rainy seasons. Depending on the month of the trip, you have to prepare for the following:

January. A trip to the islands this month will definitely be successful due to the warm, sunny and calm weather and the calm that reigns in the ocean. Although technically January is the rainy season, there is a minimum of precipitation, which guarantees a wonderful beach holiday and diving opportunities. In the daytime, the thermometer rises to at least +24 °C, and the water temperature averages +27 °C.

February. At this time, crowds of tourists usually flock here. The ocean continues to please comfortable temperature water - +25 °С, and the daytime air temperature rarely drops below +28 °С. There are practically no waves, and the sky is perfectly blue and cloudless. Therefore, even inexperienced divers can start learning the tricks of diving, and the almost complete absence of precipitation allows you to ride a yacht or a catamaran to your heart's content.

March. This month is also considered to be quite hot and dry, and the average air and water temperatures differ little from February. The sand remains very warm, and there are practically no tropical showers. In March, many local flora bloom, but be prepared for occasional sandstorms.

April. At this time, the southwest monsoon comes to the Maldives, bringing with it a change in weather. Storms in the ocean are rare, the heat intensifies, but the rains here are still infrequent guests. If you cannot stand stuffiness, it is worth postponing the trip: the air temperature is mostly +30 °C, and the water temperature reaches +28 °C.

May. Start to blow very strong winds sometimes turning into hurricanes. There is much more precipitation: about half of the days in May are rainy. At the same time, the weather constantly surprises. The sun is replaced by heavy rain and vice versa.

June. This month continues the May trend as the southwest monsoon takes over. There are very strong gusts of warm wind. In June, the maximum precipitation falls in the Maldives, typical for this region, but their number rarely exceeds 200 mm. ocean waves sometimes reach gigantic proportions. The thermometer stays at an average of +30 °C, and the water temperature in the ocean is +27 °C.

July. At this time, the islands are not very comfortable due to frequent rains. However, they quickly end, and soon the sky is partially cleared and the sun peeps through the clouds. In July, approximately 160 mm of precipitation falls, and the air temperature is +31 °C. In water, the thermometer usually shows +27 ° C. Thunderstorms are possible during which coolness is felt.

August. This month is considered the most changeable on the islands. In early August, the sea is quite warm and calm, winds and hurricanes practically stop. It rains relatively infrequently, and the atolls are still hot. But already at the end of the month, the sky becomes more and more covered with clouds, it often rains, and the wind intensifies.

September. Predominantly preserved day and night warm weather, and the debilitating heat recedes. Remains quite high humidity, and precipitation falls up to 200 mm. The average number of rainy days in September is 15-16. Rains are often accompanied by severe thunderstorms, but the ocean remains quite warm with water temperatures around +27 °C.

October. The air temperature drops slightly to +27-29 °C, and the water temperature drops to +26 °C, which does not interfere with swimming at all. It rains much less often: usually no more than 100 mm of precipitation falls.

November. This month, the northeast monsoon arrives in the Maldives, bringing with it warm and dry weather. Winds and rains rarely bother tourists, and the thermometer on average shows +28 ° С. Water warms up to +25 °С.

December. At this time of the year, everything blooms on the islands, so that they turn into a real tropical paradise. Daytime temperatures rise to +30-32 °С, and the water temperature in the ocean rarely drops below +25 °С.

How to get to the Maldives

In any guidebook, where you will find everything you wanted to know about the Maldives, it is indicated that the connection of the island state with the mainland is carried out exclusively by air. The country's only airport is located in the capital Male. You can get to it in the following ways:

Direct flight of Aeroflot from Moscow. New Airbus A-330-200 aircraft take off from Russian capital twice a week: on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If it is important for you to know how long it takes to fly from Moscow on such a direct flight, you will have to be patient: the flight duration is approximately 9 hours.

Please note that when returning from the Maldives, you will have to pay an airport tax of 10 USD - 15 USD, which is not always included in the airfare.

Flight with connecting companies Qatar Airways(transfer point - Doha), Singapore Airlines (transfer point - Singapore) or Emirates Airlines (transfer point - Dubai). The cost of tickets for airliners of these air carriers already includes the airport tax.

On a Srilankan Airlines connecting flight. To do this, you will first have to fly to Dubai or Colombo and purchase at local airport ticket to Male for 180 USD - 250 USD. This is the most a budget option flights for those who want to save money.

The average cost of a flight between the capitals of Russia and the Maldives ranges from 570 USD to 720 USD one way.

Visa to the Maldives and customs clearance

There is no need for residents of Russia and the CIS countries to obtain a visa to travel to the Maldives, since there is a visa-free agreement. However, given the dramatic change in climate and the exotic nature of the region, it does not hurt to purchase a medical insurance policy. Weekly insurance will cost about 25 USD - 45 USD.

It is very important to comply with the rules of the customs legislation of the Republic of Maldives. They talk about the following:

• You can import and export foreign currency in unlimited quantities.
• 125 ml of perfume or cologne and 200 cigarettes, as well as no more than one personal item per passenger, are allowed without payment of duty.
• It is strictly forbidden to transport with you pork and meat products from it, salami sausages, pornographic goods, drugs, souvenirs from the shell of a sea turtle or dark coral, as well as antiques found at the bottom of the ocean.

Be sure to note that the import and export of any alcoholic beverages in the Maldives is prohibited. Violation of this rule may result in arrest.

The cost of holidays in the Maldives

Many Russian celebrities such as Volochkova are very fond of relaxing in the Maldives. This is due to the very comfortable climate and reasonable prices for accommodation. If you are wondering how much a standard ticket to the Maldives costs, please note that it depends on the following factors:

• duration of the trip;
• hotel category;
• the island on which the hotel is located;
• food and entertainment included in the price;
• season.

The more services the hotel offers for vacationers (SPA, swimming pools, animation, sauna and much more), the more expensive the rest will be. If you are planning a trip for 7-8 days with booking a single or double room with half board and a minimum of entertainment, you will have to spend from 2600 USD to 5500 USD.

Wedding tour involves romantic weekend for newlyweds and will cost from 1750 USD to 2500 USD. The price includes decoration of the room, services of photographers and musicians, fruit, wine or champagne and a solemn wedding ceremony of an informal nature. An all-inclusive tour is suitable for those who want to completely relax during their trip. Its price - from 3500 USD to 7000 USD for a weekly stay in a 4 or 5 star hotel - includes Three meals a day and free drinks throughout your stay.

Those who want to save money should pay attention to last-minute tours: they are usually 30% cheaper. Also on the most budget holiday in the Maldives for 8 days you will have to spend about 2000 USD if you book a room in an inexpensive three-star hotel without special amenities. The price includes airfare and medical insurance.

The Maldives is a real sunny paradise on earth, where you can easily recuperate after a long-awaited vacation.

The Maldives is probably the most remote corner of Asia, but despite this, every year hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world fly there to enjoy their holidays in this exotic paradise world. Be prepared to be greeted by a warm welcome in the Maldives Indian Ocean With clear water(in which you will see amazing beauty corals), as well as snow-white sandy beaches surrounded by groves of coconut palms and fruit trees.

The island state of the Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, about 700 km southwest of Sri Lanka and 400 km from India. The Maldives covers the territory of 26 atolls. The total area of ​​this country, including all the islands (and there are more than a hundred of them) is 298 km2.

There are no mountains in the Maldives. In general, the most high point The Maldives does not exceed 2.4 meters. Also, there are no rivers and lakes in the Maldives.

The capital of the Maldives is Male, which is now home to more than 100 thousand people. Male was built in the Middle Ages as the residence of the Maldivian sultan.

The official language in the Maldives is Dhivehi, belonging to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family.

The majority of the population of the Maldives are Sunni Muslims.

According to the current Constitution, the Maldives is a parliamentary republic. Its head is the President, who has been elected for 5 years since 2008. The President appoints the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet of Ministers.

The parliament in the Maldives is unicameral - the People's Majlis. Deputies of the Mejlis are also elected for a 5-year term (their number may vary).

The climate in the Maldives is subequatorial monsoonal. There are two periods of monsoons - northeast monsoons (dry season) from November to March and southwest monsoons (rain) from June to August. In other words, the dry season in the Maldives lasts from November to April (March and April are the hottest months of the year), and the wet season lasts from May to early November.

The air temperature in the Maldives ranges from +23C to +33C, and tends closer to +30C.

Air temperature in the Maldives (average):

January - +27С
- February - +28C
- March - +29C
- April - +29С
- May - +28C
- June - +28C
- July - +28С
- August - +28C
- September - +27C
- October - +27С
- November - +27C
- December - +27С

The shores of the Maldives are washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean. The sea temperature near the Maldives ranges from +24C to +33C, so you can swim there all year round.

The Maldives was formed 65 million years ago by an eruption underwater volcanoes. The first people in the Maldives appeared 4 thousand years ago (they were sailors sailing the Indian Ocean). The Maldives was settled by people from Sri Lanka and India, and later by Arabs.

From about the middle of the 12th century, Islam began to spread in the Maldives.

Since the middle of the 16th century, Europeans (Portuguese, Dutch and British) have made numerous attempts to colonize the Maldives. In the end, in 1887, the Maldives came under the protectorate of Great Britain.

It wasn't until 1965 that the Maldives gained independence.

On the culture of the inhabitants of the Maldives big influence rendered by Indian culture as well as Islam. Since Islam is the main religion in the Maldives, it is clear that locals celebrate all Muslim holidays (Eid al-Adha and Kuda Eid).

In addition, the Maldives has National holidays– Independence Day (July 26) and Republic Day.

The cuisine of the Maldives was formed under the influence of Indian and Arab culinary traditions. The main food items are fish (mostly tuna), rice, seafood, vegetables, and of course spices (due to the proximity of Sri Lanka and India). In addition, Maldivian cuisine cannot be imagined without coconut.

Coconut is the main ingredient in most local desserts. The people of Maldives often make various sweet puddings.

The main soft drinks are tea with added milk and sugar, as well as coffee, palm juice and sweetened milk.

From fermented palm milk, the inhabitants of the Maldives make a low-alcohol drink.

If you don't like Maldivian cuisine, then the restaurant of any local hotel will offer various international dishes.

The Maldives is a small island nation located on 26 atolls. The largest of them is Male, whose population exceeds 100 thousand people. It is clear that there are very few attractions in the Maldives. However, in this country there are places that you should still visit.

To present the history of the Maldives, we recommend that tourists visit National Museum Male. It contains artifacts that reflect all eras of the history of the Maldives. This museum is part of Royal Palace built in the 17th century.

Pay attention to the Hukuru Misky Mosque in Male. It was built in 1656. The interior of the mosque is famous for its wood carvings. One of its panels was carved in the 13th century to commemorate the introduction of Islam into the country.

Most Big city in the Maldives, its capital, Male, is now home to more than 100,000 people.

The Republic of Maldives is located on 26 small atolls. As a rule, one hotel is located on each atoll. Please note that some of the hotels specialize in spa services, combining Asian and European spa programs.

The white sandy beaches in the Maldives are considered some of the best in the world. The Maddives are literally "immersed" in corals. Therefore, tourists in places where Coral reefs come close to the shore, we recommend swimming in special sandals.

You should know that you can be topless on the beaches of the Maldives only on one island - Kuramathi. Drinking alcohol on the beaches is also prohibited.

The legislation of the Republic of Maldives prohibits the collection of corals and any marine fauna.

Maybe, best beach The Maldives is located on the South Ari Atoll. We are talking about Nalaguraidhoo beach. In addition, pay attention to the beaches on the islands of Banyan Tree Island, Nika and Cocoa Island.

The Maldives are considered great place for diving. This is quite expected, given the presence in this region of a huge amount of corals and amazingly beautiful underwater world.

After a holiday in the Maldives, tourists usually bring home handicrafts, bright local fabrics, rugs with original patterns, black coral jewelry, and stamps. Make sure that the souvenirs you buy are really made in the Maldives, and not in Thailand and Indonesia.

Weekends in the Maldives are Friday and Saturday.

The Republic of Maldives is nothing more than a group of atolls - rings covering the sea lagoons. The archipelago is located south of India, and the sea of ​​the Maldives is the majestic and huge Indian Ocean, which here merges with the sky, making the horizon line almost invisible.

Paradise vacation

Which sea borders the Maldives? This question is asked by one of the first happy owners of luxury tours. maldivian resorts. The Indian Ocean is the third largest among the world's oceans, and it was its waters that made a beach holiday on the islands so amazing and memorable. The main visitors to the local resorts can be divided into three groups:

• Newlyweds who decide to spend Honeymoon royally. Sea of ​​Maldives, white sand beaches and bright sun, complete with great hotels and the opportunity to retire together on the whole island - weighty arguments in favor of choosing this particular tourist destination.
• Divers for whom the first and only place is rich undersea world Indian Ocean near the Maldives. Other aspects do not bother them much, and diving in the local resorts is possible in any season.
• Fans of high-class rest and perfect service, for whom the price of the issue does not matter.

ocean of dreams

The Indian Ocean in the area of ​​the Maldives can be called ideal. It has a beautiful color, the water is clean and transparent, the underwater world is striking in its diversity, and the water temperature makes swimming pleasant and comfortable. The thermometer in its waters at the local resorts does not fall below +26 degrees throughout the year, from which both beachgoers and divers are delighted.
The question of what kind of seas are in the Maldives is usually puzzled by those who like to go out on yachts. On the archipelago, there is even an opportunity to stay on a yacht, and its rent will not exceed the cost good room at the hotel here. This type of holiday allows you to see many new islands and get real ocean impressions.
The Indian Ocean is rich in a wide variety of fauna. Here you can find not only sea ​​turtles and dolphins, but even blue whales and sperm whales. In the Maldives area, the ocean waters are inhabited by plankton, some of which can glow at night, which makes the waves especially picturesque. There are no dangerous animals on land on the islands, and whale sharks, which can swim to the shores for enough close quarters, feed only on plankton and do not pose a threat to swimmers.