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Area
Land Area: 1,190 Islands with a land
area of 115 square miles (298 sq. km).
Sea Area: Approx. 41,500 square miles
(107,500 sq. km) |
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Formation and Geographical Location
Coral Islands, grouped into Atolls, stretch along the 73rd Meridian between
Latitudes 0 42' South and 8 10' North, for a distance of 468.3 miles (753.6 km),
with a width of 73.4 (118.1 km) from East to West.
The Shortest distance from the mainland of India is 217 miles (350 km) and
from Sri Lanka 460 miles (740 km) in the Indian Ocean.
Latitude
: 07°
06'30" North to 00° 41'48" South.
Longitude
: 72° 32'30"
East to 73° 45'54" East.
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Political
Status
Since 1965, Maldives
is an Independent Republic, electing Democratically the Parliament. The President is the
Head of the Government, elected every 5 years.
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President
of Maldives
H.
E. Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom from the year 1978. |
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Population
214,139 (1990)
260,000 (1997 official estimate).
The Population of the Capital
Male' was 58,000 in the year 1990.
Annual population increase is 3.8% |
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Capital : Malé
Male' the Capital
Island envelopes an area of 1.77 sq.kms.
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Maldives
Standard Time
+5 hrs
GMT ( 5 hours ahead of GMT ) |
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Religion
100%
Sunni Muslim. Maldives is perhaps the only
Country with a 100% Muslim population. Islam was introduced around A.D.800, and the
moderate form practiced in Maldives has remained virtually unchanged. |
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Languages
Dhivehi, an
indigenous language spoken only in the Maldives. The script is called "Thaana".
English is the language taught at Schools. Most people in Male' and staff of the Tourist
Resorts speak English.
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Literacy Rate
98.2% (Age group
10-45 yrs) |
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Health
Maldives
is a Tropical Country but the people are extremely clean.
You will be safe here, but please get advice from your
Doctor or health visitor regarding vaccinations.
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Weather
Temperature:
The
temperature volatiles between 30.4° C (Mean Max) and 25.4° C (Mean Min).
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Monsoon:
South-West
Monsoon : May-October
North-East
Monsoon : November-April.
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Average Annual Rain fall:
is about 1948.2 mm. |
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Currency
Maldivian Rufiyaa Mrf and
unit Laari (100 Laari's in 1 Rufiyaa)
The approximate Exchange
rates are:
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| US $ 1 |
= |
12 Mrf |
| Sterling
£1 |
= |
18 Mrf. |
| German
Mark |
= |
6.5 Mrf |
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Working Hours
Banks : 8 am - 1.30 PM (Sun to Thus)
Government Offices : 7.30 am -2.30 PM (Sun to Thus), Fri and Sat
holidays.
Private Offices: Open between 8 am
and 10 am and close between 6 PM and 8 PM, with a lunch
break and are Closed on Fridays only. |
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Credit Cards Accepted
American Express, Diners Club, EuroCard, JCB, MasterCard, Visa. |
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Economy
Major Industries: Tourism, Fish canning, manufacture of Garments, Boat
Building,
and Handicrafts.
GDP growth: 6.1%. Inflation : 20.1% (1994 figures) |
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National
Flag and Emblem
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National Tree
Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera).
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National Flower
Pink Rose (Rosa pdyantha).
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Food and Drink Fish
and coconuts are the only products that are not imported and they find their way into most
of the delicacies in the menu. The Spiny backed lobster is a delicacy. |
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Clothing - Dress Code
Casual clothing is
normal in Maldives. However, it is advisable to have your thighs and shoulders covered.
Bikini's are not permitted in inhabited local islands since it is a Muslim country. Light
weight cottons and linens clothes are common. |
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Shopping
The capital Male', being the
center of commercial activities is the ideal place to shop. Shops open between 7.30 am and
9.30 am, and close by 11 pm. On Fridays they open by 1.30 pm and close as usual.
Maldives is amongst
one of the toughest countries in dealing with drugs. Lengthy jail sentences are normal if
found in possession or whilst using them, even with a joint. Please do not try to import
any form of drug into Maldives. Also, please do not use drugs even if offered whilst
there, it is not worth the risk!
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Alcohol and Drugs
Maldivians, being Muslims, are
prohibited by law from consuming alcohol, hence there is strict restriction on the alcohol
available in the inhabited Islands. Foreigners who reside in Maldives can have a private
supply arranged by an authorized License procedure. All Tourist Resorts and Hotels, as
well Cruise Ships and Yachts have alcohol for consumption guests.
Maldives is amongst
one of the toughest countries in dealing with drugs. Lengthy jail sentences are normal if
found in possession or whilst using them, even with a joint. Please do not try to import
any form of drug into Maldives. Also, please do not use drugs even if offered whilst
there, it is not worth the risk! |
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Visa
Requirements
No prior Visa arrangements
are required. A Tourist Visa of 30 days will be given to visitors with valid Travel
Documents, on arrival. Visitors should be in possession of
at least US$25 per day of stay in the Maldives. For those coming from yellow fever
infected regions, an International Certificate of inoculation is required. A passenger
service fee of US$10 is levied per person, on departure. |
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Air Transport
Apart from international
flights operated by South Africa, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, the
U.A.E., and a number of European countries to and from Male’ International Airport
(Tel : 322073), there are also regular domestic flights operated by Air Maldives to
Hanimaadhoo, Kadhdhoo, Kaadhedhdhoo, and Gan. Hummingbird Helicopters and the Maldivian
Air Taxi and the latter having the largest Air fleet operate inter-Island services. They
also carry out sightseeing trips, photo shooting trips and Medevac operations. |
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Road Transport
Travel on most of the islands takes no more than half-an-hour on foot.
Bicycles and motorbikes are the popular modes of transport. Taxis are not metered,
charging Mrf 15, if hailed on the road or Mrf 10, if called on phone from the Taxi
Services, (325656, 323132, etc.). |
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Sea Transport
Local
boats, or Dhoanis (average speed 7 knots), are the most
common means of Water transport. kilometers to the East
on the Hulule' Island. Modern speedboaters are also available
for hire. |
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Things you might have not known before
We are not very
good at Football in the International arena! But it is our National Game! There is only
one National Stadium - Galolhu Dhan'du in the Capital Male' .
In the medieval times, we were an
important source for the Cowry shells, for obvious reasons; these were the currency used
by traders East of Africa, so we were quite a wealthy Nation then.
We were a British Protectorate during the
Second World War and gained full Independence in 1968. The English word "Atoll"
meaning a Group of Islands is originally a Maldivian word, in Dhivehi, we pronounce it
" Atholhu". |
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