Where are the Maldives?  

The Maldives is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sri Lanka and India. It shapes an archipelago1 of 26 coral atolls2 extending across the equator. These atolls are additionally divided into 20 administrative regions3 and include over 1,200 islands; however, only about 200 are settled. The Maldives also features more than 1,126 coral reefs, making it a paradise for marine life. Islam is the official state religion of the Maldives. The capital city is Malé, home to around 150,000 people. 

1) The Maldives is one of the flattest countries on earth  

Unlike most countries with tall mountains and big hills, the Maldives is almost completely flat. The highest natural point in the Maldives is Mount Villingili, which stands approximately 5.1 meters (17 feet) above sea level. This makes it the lowest-lying country in the world in terms of elevation, making it highly exposed to rising sea levels. This puts the nation at danger of being drowned in the future. 

2) The Maldives held an underwater cabinet meeting  

In 2009, President Mohamed Nasheed and 13 other government officials held an underwater cabinet meeting to raise awareness about global carbon emissions and their effect on rising sea levels in the Maldives. Since about 40% of the world’s population lives within 100 km of the coast, rising sea levels pose a serious threat to many communities. One major cause of rising sea levels is melting ice from glaciers and ice sheets4, this leads to an increase in ocean water volume as melting ice sheets add more water to the seas as it gets warmer. When water heats up, its molecules move apart, making the ocean take up more space. This process is occurring globally, causing sea levels to rise now and in the future. 

3) The Maldives has a glowing Beach  

As the sun sets and the sky turns dark, the turquoise waters of the Maldives transform into a breathtaking phenomenon known as the Sea of Stars. The ocean appears to come alive as if stars have fallen from the sky and shimmer beneath the waves. This magical effect is known as bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon discovered in many living things, including bacteria, algae, jellyfish, crustaceans, worms, fish, sharks, and mushrooms. In the Maldivian waters, it is caused by tiny plankton5 called dinoflagellates. These plankton generate a bright blue light using a special chemical called luciferin. They do this as a protection mechanism to confuse and scare away predators. The light is often triggered by waves or movement, creating the stunning effect of glowing waves gently washing ashore in the Maldives. 

4) The language used in the Maldives is Dhivehi 

The official language is Dhivehi. It is an Indo-Aryan language with a deep heritage and many absorbed words from Arabic, Hindi, English, and even old French over time. 

5) Weekends are different 

In the Maldives, the weekend falls on Friday and Saturday rather than Saturday and Sunday. The workweek starts on Sunday and Friday is a day of rest, so public transportation and government services usually stop until Saturday. 

6) The Maldives has a history of piracy  

Due to its strategic location along ancient trade routes, the Maldives experienced instances of piracy. The quietness of the islands was often disturbed by pirates and superpowers of the day.   

Footnotes:  

1. An archipelago is a group or chain of islands clustered together in a sea or ocean. 

2. Atolls are ring-shaped coral reefs surrounding a central lagoon. 

3. Administrative regions are areas managed by a local government for organization and public services. 

4. Ice sheets are massive layers of glacial ice covering large land areas. 

5. Plankton are tiny aquatic organisms drifting in water 

Citations:  

“8 Things You Didn’t Know about the Maldives.” Www.greatvaluevacations.com, www.greatvaluevacations.com/travel-inspiration/facts-about-the-maldives.  

Britannica. “Maldives | History, Points of Interest, & Tourism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 Apr. 2019, www.britannica.com/place/Maldives.  

Cristina. “30+ Facts about the Maldives: Fun, Unique, and Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know.” Honest Travel Stories, 2 May 2024, honesttravelstories.com/facts-about-the-maldives/. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.  

Maldives History and Culture. 12 Sept. 2012, www.mymaldives.com/maldives/history/.  

“The Sea of Stars in the Sunny Side of Life.” Visitmaldives, visitmaldives.com/en/experience/the-sea-of-stars-in-the-sunny-side-of-life.  

“Underwater Cabinet Meeting in the Maldives.” Science on a Sphere, sos.noaa.gov/education/phenomenon-based-learning/underwater-cabinet-meeting/.