Unknown Facts about the Maldives

The Republic of Maldives is an archipelago of some 1,190 low-lying coral islands in the Indian Ocean, about 300 miles southwest of India. The islands are divided into 24 natural atolls, which are subdivided into 19 atolls for administrative purposes. The nation’s total land mass is approximately 115 square miles and covers an area of ​​500 miles from north to south and 80 miles from east to west. The 197 inhabited islands offer sandy beaches, lagoons, and lush tropical vegetation with an abundance of coconut and breadfruit trees, as well as limited farmland.

The climate is hot and humid, with an average temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and most of the annual precipitation occurs between May and November. Male, the capital of the island, is located in the central part of the archipelago, about 400 miles southwest of Sri Lanka. Maldives is one of the most economically disadvantaged and environmentally vulnerable countries in the world. The unit of currency is the Maldivian rufiya.

The country’s economy is based on a rapidly growing tourism sector, in addition to more traditional activities such as fishing and fishing-related industries, boat building and repair, handicrafts such as coconut products, fish products, lace and lacquerware. . The geographical features of this island nation require that educational institutions be scattered throughout the inhabited atolls and islands, and that ships be used for inter-island transportation.

Here is the list of unknown facts about the Maldives

Maldives has historic coral houses

Traditional Maldivian houses were originally made of coral due to coral mining. Coral rocks from shallow reef areas were used for these houses. As most citizens used coconut wood and leaves to build their houses, coral was reserved for mosques, tombstones and monuments as they were a symbol of wealth. A house made of coral was a sign of luxury and prestige. Although the coral reefs are protected today, ancient coral houses can still be seen in the Maldives.

There was a time when money was washed on the beach

Well, not money as we know it, but a coin all the same. In the 1800s, seashells were used as a kind of currency for international trade, and the Maldives were full of them. Not just any old shell, mind you. It had to be a specific species: the cowrie shell. Light, distinctive and impossible to counterfeit, these shells had the perfect characteristics to make money. Being native to the Indian Ocean, they were readily available in the Maldives, and a whole shell money trade sprung up around the islands.

A Maldivian president once held a cabinet meeting underwater

Another unique and interesting fact about the Maldives is that former President Mohammed Nasheed held an underwater cabinet meeting at Girifushi. On October 17, 2009, Nasheed and 13 other government officials attended the first underwater cabinet meeting. On the agenda was the fight against the threat of global warming. During the meeting, the officials signed a document urging all countries to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions and prevent climate change. The document was then presented at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December of the same year.

Equatorial sunlight in Maldives

The Maldives receives sunlight at an angle of almost 90 degrees, as it is so close to the equator. Be sure to bring and apply sunscreen with an SPF of 50+. These facts about the Maldives only scratch the surface of what the true culture and heritage of this amazing island nation is, the rest you can only experience. This country of 298 square kilometers and 1,000 islands is not only one of the safest places to visit, but also one of the most beautiful.

World’s first submarine cabinet meeting

If you thought that a conference room was the only place where meetings took place, you were wrong! In 2009, the then Maldivian government held an underwater cabinet meeting. The reason for the underwater gathering, which involved scuba gear and oxygen tanks instead of a suit and tie, was to raise awareness of the threat global warming poses to the Indian Ocean nation. That made quite a few waves, we think!

Public affection is a strict no in the Maldives + No alcohol

This is because the population of the Maldives is Muslim. In the Maldivian islands you cannot wear a swimsuit and show affection in public. If you do the same, you will get in trouble. In Maldives, the consumption of alcohol is also prohibited on private islands. In addition, homosexuality is punishable in this Indian archipelago. However, there are bikini beaches on the local islands, but it is better to switch to private island resorts, where alcohol consumption and bikini flaunting are not prohibited.

Beaches are incredibly rare.

The beaches of the Maldives are famous for their stunning beauty. One of the main reasons why vacationers choose the Maldives is the quality of the beaches on these islands: selfies from paradise often arouse a lot of vacation envy. But apart from their good looks, there is another reason why these beaches are so special: they are made of coral. Unlike most beaches, which are made of quartz, a coral beach is made of dried seaweed that has been bleached by the sun. Coral beaches are rare, making up only about 5% of the world’s beaches. These sandy beaches are only found in a few other places in the world.

The smallest Islamic state

The Maldives are primarily associated with laid-back recreation. They are the center of tourism and entertainment. However, Maldivians are Muslim and adhere to strict rules. For example, there is no alcohol on the local islands, and bikini beaches are found only in places specially designated for tourists and in private resorts. Islam was introduced to the islands in 1153 and remains the only official religion in the country. Maldives is not only the smallest country in Asia, but also the smallest Islamic state.

Maldivian sailors still sail using only the stars

Many local sailors in the Maldives still use ancient sailing techniques that have been passed down for centuries. They do not use modern GPS technology or even a ship’s compass to navigate the islands. Instead, they are based on the position of the stars in the sky, which can be easily observed in the clear skies of the Maldives. Experienced sailors can even navigate safely around the many coral reefs simply by looking at the surface of the water.

Hosted the first underwater cabinet meeting

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed decided a stuffy boardroom was not the right place for a cabinet meeting on global change. Instead, he decided to send his ministers to the bottom of the sea. 11 ministers traded their suits for scuba gear to ratify a document calling for a global reduction in carbon emissions. The president hoped the action would draw attention to rising sea levels that threaten to flood many islands in the Maldives.

I hope you understand this article, Unknown Facts about the Maldives.

Amy Hinckley
Amy Hinckley
The Dell Inspiron 15 that her father purchased from QVC sparked the beginning of her interest in technology. At Bollyinside, Amy Hinckley is in charge of content editing and reviewing products. Amy's interests outside of working include going for bike rides, playing video games, and watching football when she's not at her laptop.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles

Hubspot Service Hub review 2024: a comprehensive platform

When it comes to customer support operations, HubSpot Service Hub is an all-encompassing customer service platform that is meant to...
Read more
When players on Windows 11 or 10 try to log in to Steam, they may get the error code E87....
Users of Windows 11 or 10 may find it frustrating to deal with the error number 147-0 in Microsoft Office....
The Microsoft Store is an important part of the Windows operating system because it gives users a single place to...
It can be hard to find the right balance between usefulness, durability, and cost when it comes to kitchen storage....
Both AirDroid and Vysor are well-known tools that help Android users control their devices and mirror them. One of the...