Joanna James
The Maldives is a tropical archipelago of over a 1,000 coral islands. The beaches are made up of powdery white sand and the waters are crystal clear. In the ocean is some of the world's most exotic marine life, while island vibes abound throughout the Maldives. Listed are more interesting facts.
The world's first underwater cabinet meeting took place in the Maldives, and really there could not have been a more appropriate place to do so. the island nation faces a range of threats from rising sea levels to climate change and dwindling freshwater resources; in order to draw world attention to these factors, then president Mohamed Nasheed initiated the world's first cabinet meeting on the ocean floor in 2009.
Staying at resorts the likes of Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort, you will feel like royalty, but did you know the Maldives first kingdom was in fact formed by Prince Sri Soorudasaruna Aaditiya? He was in fact, the exiled son of a king from Kalinga, a province in India. Prior to the prince's arrival, the islands were occupied by people from India who lived harmoniously without any governance, worshipping the sun and water. The prince went on to establish the Solar Dynasty of Maldives although nothing much is recorded of the nation's history during this period.
Over 1,190 low lying coral islands make up the 26 atolls of the Maldives archipelago. Of these 200 islands are inhabited and 80 of them are home to resorts. When it comes to the best luxury resort Maldives has to offer, those that are based on their own private islands are always amongst the top contenders. Located along the main sea line of the Indian Ocean, the atolls are part of the larger assembly called the Laccadives-Chagos Ridge, stretching over 2,000kms hence almost 90% of the country is water.
The average ground level of the Maldives is 1.5 metres. The highest point in the nation is located on Villingili Island and that too measures a mere 2.3 metres in height, which compared with the rest of the world is the lowest point. As a nation that's based on the earth's lowest point, the Maldives is in constant fear of sinking, due to the drastic climate changes which have taken place over the recent years.
You can order and consume alcohol only within your Maldives resort. You cannot bring the substance into the country, nor is it available at any restaurants or eateries apart from those located within the private resorts. Pork, on the other hand, is available nowhere and cannot be brought into the strict Muslim nation. In fact, the staunch Muslim nation expects visitors too, to follow the rules of Ramadan, and refrain from eating during the fasting hours; this is only during Ramadan season though and is not a hard and fast rule applied to tourists. Add to this the fact that you cannot go topless or indulge in nude bathing and you will have a trouble-free holiday in the Maldives.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
