Joanna James
The Maldives is one of the most beautiful islands in the world and considered its number one honeymoon destination. There are many interesting facts about the Maldives that you probably haven't heard of. It will give you some perspective into the islands before you visit.
Because the Maldives is located very close to the equator, it gets almost direct sunlight at a nearly 90-degree angle. As such the sun is very strong and you must be careful to wear as much SPF protection as possible when you go out swimming or sunbathing in the Maldives.
The islands in the Maldives are very distinct in that they have been shaped and constantly modified by the hand of nature. Sand is taken away during the monsoon and brought back by other seasonal currents. You will find the surfaces completely altered when you come back at another time of the year. It is also a landscape that is slowly disappearing because of global warming.
If you pick resorts the likes of Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives, you will be able to find plenty of opportunities to swim with the whale sharks. Whale sharks are one of the world's biggest fish species and Maldivian waters contain three sanctuaries for these creatures within the archipelago. It is also the only place on earth where you can have whale shark encounters all year long.
Studies show that the Maldives' unique island structures may have been created by sinking volcanoes from over 60 million years ago. The coral reef atoll structures are unique to the archipelago and may have been formed over centuries as the volcanic rock cooled and corals and organisms started to make a home in the cavities.
The Maldives has the record for being the lowest country in the world. It has an average of just 1.5m above sea level. As such most of the islands are under imminent threat from growing sea levels, a fact that government is trying to raise awareness for.
The Maldivian people of today are an amalgamation of various mixes of civilisations that came to the islands at various points in history. Currently, they could be a mix of Asian, Arabian, African and European descent. There are also close similarities to their Indian Ocean neighbours Sri Lanka and India. This is most apparent in the local cuisine that you will find at all the best restaurants in Maldives.
The Dhoni is the national boat of the Maldives and is a distinct shape which might have been inspired by the Arabian dhow. It was used by Arab traders that travelled the world in the 11th century and may have made many stops in the Maldivian islands.
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