Joanna James
The Maldives is a dream destination and there's more to this island nation than just its picture-perfect scenery. Here are 6 fun facts you probably didn't know about the Maldives.
The Maldives is made up of 26 atolls and over 1,000 islands, with only around 200 of these islands inhabited. It's also the smallest country in Asia, both in terms of land area and population. Many of the islands in the Maldives are used for tourism, with each resort occupying its own private island.
The Underwater Cabinet Meeting is a unique political event that took place in the Maldives, a nation of islands in the Indian Ocean. The event was first held in 2009, when the Maldivian President, Mohamed Nasheed, and his cabinet ministers, held their weekly meeting underwater. The event was a symbolic gesture to draw attention to the threat that climate change and rising sea levels pose to the low-lying island nation. The Maldives is the world's lowest-lying country, with an average elevation of just 1.5 metres above sea level, making it highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The underwater meeting was also a way to highlight the Maldives' commitment to taking action on climate change, and to call on other nations to take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming.
The island of Thilafushi, just off the coast of Malé, is a dumping ground for the Maldives' waste. It's estimated that around 330 tons of rubbish are brought to the island every day, making it a significant environmental concern.
The Maldives is a popular nesting ground for all seven species of sea turtles, including the Hawksbill and Green turtles. Visitors can go on turtle-watching tours, and some resorts have conservation programmes to protect these endangered creatures. Staying at a Maldives diving resort the likes of Velassaru Maldives will provide many diving options for you when in the Maldives during which you can experience up-close encounters with these fascinating creatures.
In the Maldives, the traditional way of measuring distance is by using "fathoms", a unit of length equal to six feet. This measurement is still used by fishermen and sailors today, as it is more practical to use in the shallow waters of the atolls.
The Maldives is an Islamic country, and Islam is the official religion. As such, visitors should be respectful of local customs and traditions, such as dressing modestly and avoiding public displays of affection. The Maldives is also known for its beautiful mosques, and visitors are welcome to visit these places of worship outside of prayer times. Additionally, during the holy month of Ramadan, visitors should be mindful of the customs and practices associated with the observance, such as fasting during daylight hours.
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