Maldives

I

Introduction

Maldives (Diveti Rajje ge Jumhuriyya), island republic in southern Asia, located in the northern Indian Ocean, south-west of the southern tip of India. The Maldives is made up of a chain of nearly 2,000 small coral islands that are grouped into clusters of atolls. It has a total land area of 298 sq km (115 sq mi). The capital and largest city of the Maldives is Malé.

II

Land and Resources

The islands are low-lying and have only small tracts of arable land. Vegetation is dominated by coconut palms and breadfruit trees. The principal natural resource is the marine life of the surrounding seas.

A

Climate

The climate is tropical and humid. The average annual temperature is 26.7° C (80° F), with little seasonal variation. The average annual precipitation is 1,524 mm (60 in), most of which falls between May and November.

B

Environmental Concerns

With 80 per cent of the nation less than 1 metre (40 in) above sea level, the problem of global warming and resultant rising sea levels is a growing concern in the Maldives. The devastating Indian Ocean tsunami that hit the islands on December 26, 2004, flooded large areas of the islands. Significant population growth has led to overfishing around the islands, and the natural supply of fresh water is nearly exhausted.