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The Maldives or the Republic of Maldives is a South Asian island nation located in the Indian Ocean on a group of coral islands. The Maldives are located in the southwest of Sri Lanka and India. The Maldives covers an area of approximately 298 sq. km and is one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world, as well as the smallest Asian country, both in terms of area and population, with a population of about 427,756 people. Male is the capital and most populated city, traditionally referred to as the "Island of the King" for its central location. The average ground level of the Maldives is 1.5 meters, and the most high point- 2.3 meters above sea level. Which immediately makes this country the lowest on the planet.
The Maldivian archipelago converted to Islam in the 12th century and established itself as a sultanate, developing strong trade and cultural ties with Asia and Africa. From the middle of the 16th century, the Region came under the growing influence of European colonial powers, and the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887. Independence from the United Kingdom was achieved in 1965, and a Presidential Republic was established in 1968 by an elected People's Majlis.
The state religion is Islam. The official language is Dhivehi, an Indo-Aryan language. The educated part of the population speaks Arabic and English. The Maldives is a presidential Republic, with a President, Head of Government and Head of State. The President heads the executive branch and appoints the Cabinet of Ministers, which is approved by the People's Parliament.
The Maldives has a tropical monsoon climate. Two seasons dominate the weather of the Maldives: the dry season, associated with the winter northeast monsoon, and the rainy season, which brings strong winds and storms. The transition from the dry northeast monsoon to the wet southwest monsoon occurs in April and May. During this period, southwest winds contribute to the formation of the southwest monsoon, which reaches the Maldives in early June and lasts until the end of August.
The Maldives has a range of different habitats including deep sea, shallow coastline and reef ecosystems fringing mangroves, wetlands and dry land. There are 187 species of corals, forming coral reefs. These coral reefs are home to a variety of marine ecosystems that range from planktonic organisms to whale sharks.
The Maldives is a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). They are also a member of the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement. The World Bank classifies the Maldives as an upper middle income economy. Fisheries have historically been the dominant economic activity and remains the largest sector, followed by the rapidly growing tourism industry. Along with Sri Lanka, it is one of only two South Asian countries to rank "high" on the Human Development Index, with one of the highest per capita incomes among SAARC nations.
Tourism gave a major impetus to the developing traditional handicraft industries of the country, tailoring, the production of handicrafts (mats, ropes, handicrafts), souvenirs, food preservation, boat building, buildings. In traditional types of work, the female population is mainly employed. Export - fish and postage stamps.
With regard to transport, the main vehicles- sailing and motor boats. Most of the transportation is carried out by seaplanes and boats. There are regular buses in Male, as well as taxis. Any Maldivian island can be crossed in 1.5-2 hours on foot.
Most visitors arrive at Male International Airport, on the island of Hulhule, near the capital Male. The airport is served by flights to India, Sri Lanka, Doha, Dubai, Singapore, Istanbul and major airports in South East Asia, as well as charters from Europe. Gan Airport also serves an international flight to Milan several times a week. British Airways offers direct flights to the Maldives approximately 2-3 times a week.
Interesting Facts about Maldives:
- There is only one city in the Maldives - this is the capital of the country, Male;
- There are no poisonous snakes or insects dangerous to humans in the Maldives;
- There are no dogs in the Maldives - keeping them on the island is prohibited;
- Alcohol is prohibited in the Maldives, with the exception of drinking in hotels;
- There are huge fines for coral damage in the Maldives. It is forbidden to export corals, fakes from turtles and other elements of wildlife from the islands;
- In the Maldives, there is a law that prohibits the construction of high-rise buildings higher than the tallest palm tree on the island;
- You can't swim naked in the Maldives. Nowhere!
- Pork is not allowed in the Maldives;
- In the Maldives, no religion other than the Muslim religion can be preached. Even the Bible is forbidden to bring with you.
How can you get to the Maldives, hotel internships
As always, I collected a little interesting about the country. I hope you will learn something new for yourself here. And so, interesting facts about the Maldives.
Geography.
The Maldives is an archipelago located in the north of the Indian Ocean and consists of 26 coral atolls.
The capital of the Maldives is. The 26 coral atolls include 1190 very small islands, 198 of which are not yet inhabited. Most of the islands are surrounded by coral reefs and some are in the process of being formed.
The longest island of Gunn in Addu Atoll. Since the islands are formed by coral, they are flat and located below the ocean level. As a result, the water level is high. However, the islands are protected by reefs and are rarely affected by storms.
The highest point of the islands is only two meters above sea level. That is, the land is almost flush with the water. Due to global warming, the water in the world's oceans is gradually rising, threatening to flood the islands soon. Scientists say that in a few centuries the Maldives will finally go under water. But I don't believe in it.
Male is the heart of the island people.
Male Island (pronounced as Maale) is located north of the center of the island chain, its area is approximately one and a half square kilometers. In addition to permanent residents, thousands of people from other atolls also come to Male to sell goods and shop or undergo treatment. People from other islands send their children to the capital to be educated in private or public schools.
Male is a very small island, everything is within walking distance. But it may take about 20 minutes to get around it. Mopeds are the most common mode of transport. Also gaining popularity are such modes of transport as a bicycle, van and truck.
Undersea world.
Islands form corals, and corals form polyps. Polyps are so small that they cannot be seen. If you touch the coral, you destroy the polyp.
A coral reef can take many forms, depending on the species. Some are hard, others are soft, and they can come in the most incredible shapes, from huge cymbals to antler-like weaves. As a result, an unusually beautiful landscape of coral reefs is formed.
Flora and fauna.
The most unforgettable experience in the Maldives is left by giant frugivores the bats, which at dusk settle down for the night in palm branches. Mice are more audible than visible, as they do not descend below the level of the trees, flying from branch to branch, disturbing the rest of the mice. Colorful lizards and geckos are often found on the islands. They are absolutely safe and are more afraid of you than you are of them.
Dogs and pigs on the islands are prohibited by religion.
Pets here are cats, chickens and goats. There are also birds, these are ordinary ravens, white-breasted white shepherds and Indian talking starlings. About 13 species of herons live on the islands.
Here you can find such types of fruits as: bananas, papayas, melons, mangoes and breadfruit. On most of the islands, the soil is sandy and very poor, and it is likely that there are no plant varieties.
Local residents.
The population of the Maldives has unique qualities. This is a small family group, united by a common history, Dhivehi language and religion. Islam gave strength to society and faith is taken very seriously here.
Everyone has the right to receive an education. Everyone has the opportunity to play an important role in the country's economy. They treat the head of the national “family” with great respect, as well as the head of the family, family ties are very strong here.
The country's government encourages people to migrate to remote islands such as Gunn on Aduu Atoll to work in the textile industry.
For foreigners, the villagers of some islands may seem very shy and curious to the guests of the country. At first they watch the strangers from afar, but then they become more hospitable, and then the head of the island offers the guest a cold coconut drink and a snack.
The Maldivians love football very much, they are real fans, good swimmers and divers. Young people are encouraged to develop physically, mentally and morally.
The main features for the Maldivians are friendliness and honesty, as well as respect for old customs and Muslim traditions. The government is constantly working to improve the quality of life of the people on the islands.
Art.
The construction of the Dhoni (the national fishing boat) is the most common form of art. Built without any projects, using only the eyes and experience of the captains, these boats are the main mode of transport here.
Mats made from natural materials are produced on most of the islands. It takes weeks to gather materials and weave a mat. The most impressive mat is known here as "Thunda Kunaa". These works are highly valued among local residents and foreign collectors. And look around at your resort, you are unlikely to see them in public places!
Kuda Eid Festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Muslims in the Maldives. The official celebration is held on the island and is accompanied by games and musical performances. This is a 3 day celebration of the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fast. During Kuda Eid, residents put on the most beautiful clothes, hug each other, wishing "Eid Mubarak": which means "holy holiday".
On the islands, the locals love to dance the traditional Bodu Beru dances. Such performances are found in the evenings in every hotel.
Dancing is the most popular hobby in the Maldives. "Bodu Beru" means big drum and is the most famous form of traditional music and dance. The dancers start with a slow swing, rotate their arms and increase the speed depending on the tempo of the music.
Culture. About their lives.
Girls from the Maldives tend to get married early. The minimum age for marriage is 18 years. In connection with the expansion of the education system, with the advent of the opportunity to get a job and other privileges, the age of marriage has shifted somewhat. It should be noted that if a girl receives higher education, then she can get married in middle age.
Weddings in the Maldives are very simple. The bride's father must give his consent, while the bride sets the mehir (kalym), which the groom must pay. The couple is then registered by an authorized person. To organize a wedding does not require a large investment of financial resources from both parties. Also, there is no bride price system in the country, and the parents of the bride, according to tradition and law, are not required to bear the costs.
In the Maldivian society, in family matters, women lead a fairly independent life. The head of the house is the husband, but the most important and serious decisions in the life of the family are made by the wife. After marriage, a woman retains her maiden name. She can acquire land and property, as well as establish a business under her own name, manage it and sell it herself.
Closely located island communities practice mutual aid in order to survive in difficult conditions. The system of such extended families provides security for those who are going through a difficult period. In addition to parents, other members of the community also take part in the upbringing of children.
Kitchen. What to try in the Maldives?
What is worth trying from food in the Maldives? Maldivian cuisine is tuna, rice, rice, tuna, again rice and again tuna. Almost every dish includes both. Well, what to do when there is a dime a dozen tuna. And it is cooked everywhere deliciously and served with roshi (a type of bread) and other products such as coconut flakes, onions, chili peppers, salt and lemon juice.
Try godiyu - this is the most popular soup in the Maldives, again, made from tuna and cereals.
Among the Maldivians, a large number of dishes are based on fish, such as Hanaakurimas - dried fish with curry. Fish, cut into small pieces and overcooked with spices until dry.
Gulha - fish balls served with valhoamas (dried fish) with coconut, onion, chili, ginger and lemon juice.
Bajiya (bajiya) - a pie stuffed with tuna, onion, ginger and herbs.
Fish is the main source of protein, rice is the main carbohydrate. Also on many resort islands breadfruit is an important part diet food. Betel leaves with areca nuts, cloves and lemon, known as Foh, are served after main courses.
Elderly people on the islands smoke guduguda, a long pipe with a water tray.
Mas Hun - if you have ever tried the national Maldivian breakfast, you still want to eat it again, then you are in luck!
Here is the Mas Hun recipe. It's very quick to cook.
Ingredients:
200 g canned Maldivian tuna (cut into slices).
50 g coconut (shredded coconut or coconut flakes).
1 onion - large (cut into thin slices)
1 chili pepper (chopped).
Juice of two lemons and salt to taste.
Mix onion and chili, add lemon juice and salt. Stir thoroughly to add coconut and tuna.
Traditional dishes for celebrations and holidays: meat, except for pork, is consumed only on holidays. Alcohol is allowed only in tourist resorts. The local drink, raa, is a sweet punch made from the top of a palm tree.
To define the word "love" in the Maldivian language (Dhivehi language), there are three words:
- Lo̒abi - used in conversations about a loved one, a person you like.
- Aleikhishey - used only in the dialect of the South Addu Atoll and is used to express love for a child.
- Khituge̒ adi̒n gabu̒lkuran - is used to express love for God (and as people themselves say, even this expression cannot cover all that depth of love and respect for God).
HOLIDAY OF HOSPITALITY
More recently, there was a holiday in the Maldives, when in the evening, after all the prayers performed during the day, 12 people came to a person’s house and sang songs, mostly texts from the holy book of the Koran. The owner of the house had to invite them, seat them at the table with refreshments and join in the chants.
DAYS OF THE WEEK
In the Maldives, 500 years ago there was a religion of Buddhism. And the names of the days of the week that are now used in the Maldives carry some Buddhist concepts:
- Monday - khoo̒ma (होम "sacred ritual", "sacrifice").
- Tuesday - angara ("fire inside", "inner fire").
- Wednesday - buda (बुध "awakened", "wise").
- Thursday is burasf̒ti (बृहस्पति the essence of prayer and devotion).
- Friday - khukuru.
- Saturday - honihiru̒.
- Sunday - adita (आदिता “the beginning of everything”, “the beginning”. The word Aditi is derived from this word, denoting the feminine principle in the Vedic tradition that gave birth to all gods, people and the whole world).
MALDIVE GAMES
This people has a very interesting and beautiful game called Ouvaligandu. On a long wooden board, 7 holes are cut opposite each other (14) and two larger holes on both sides. In all holes, except for two large ones, 8 small, smooth shells are placed. The meaning of the game is to collect the largest number of shells in one of the large holes. Usually people play this game during the holy month of Ramadan to distract themselves from their thoughts. When I myself play this game, I notice how I calm down.
Since the islands are in the ocean, there are many water games. One of them is Fas "O Bonda". A group of people stand in a circle in the water, before that they pick a white berry from the bushes that are located on all the beaches of the Maldives. The host throws a berry and everyone starts to row the water towards themselves or away from themselves - whoever wants. Then everyone stops and everyone tries to find a berry in the seething water, to see it, but this is not the whole task - it needs to be caught.As soon as someone rushes to it, others, seeing this, also rush there and beat the water again, so the berry is lost again.The one who finds and grabs it starts the game from the beginning.
THERE ARE NO SURNAME IN THE MALDIVES
In the Maldives, people do not have surnames or patronymics. Each is given several names, and all the names are Arabic. For instance:
Women's full names- Aminat Aisha, Havva Hasan, Aishat Layan, Kadda Didi
Male names - Ahmed Mausum, Hussein Maahid, Ibrahim Adam Ghafur.
GREETING WITHOUT WORD
In the Maldives, there is no word for greeting, according to tradition, people greet each other without words, just looking into each other's eyes, while slightly raising their eyebrows. Sometimes they may also say the name of the person being greeted. Previously, it was not very clear to me why they have such a greeting, and yet it has existed on the islands since the most ancient antiquity. Now after watching the show "A LIFE" on the ALLATRA TV channel, it became clear to me that greeting each other without words is natural, the main thing is what is internally invested in it, what feelings, because the Spirit greets the Spirit silently.
It is obvious that many legends and traditions also take place in the cultures of other peoples. People find opportunities for friendship and unity through games and holidays. Concentration of attention and distraction from bad thoughts during games also has an interesting relationship with other cultures. As a result, you understand that despite the place of residence of people and their nationality, having learned more deeply any nation, we see a common source, common roots, which are clearly visible in traditions, holidays, and the meanings of words.
1. The Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located south of India and Sri Lanka.
2. The Maldives is in the Guinness Book of Records as the country with the flattest terrain: there are no hills or rivers, and none of the islands protrude from the water by more than 2.4 meters.
3. Maldives consists of 1190 small coral islands and the land area is only 298 km2. Of these, only 200 islands are inhabited, 44 are adapted exclusively for resort recreation.
4. The name "Maldives" comes from the Hindu words "mahal" (palace) and "diva" (island).
5. The Maldives are located almost on the equator, and therefore the average annual temperature in the Maldives is 25-30 degrees. Night temperature differs from daytime by only 1-2 degrees.
6. The Maldives is possibly the only country in the world with a 100% Muslim population.
7. Maldivian Dhivehi is the national language, which is a mixture of Singaporean, Tamil, Urdu, Persian and Arabic. The Maldivian script known as "Thaana" is written from left to right. Thaana consists of 24 letters, vowel sounds are indicated by circles and commas placed above or below consonants.
8. Citizens of Russia and the CIS do not need a visa to the Maldives. A visa is issued upon arrival at the airport in Male upon presentation of a passport, a return ticket and an amount of money sufficient to live in the country.
9. Bringing alcohol to the Maldives is prohibited. You can drink only in specially designated places - in the bars and restaurants of hotels where visitors from Sri Lanka and India serve (citizens of the Maldives are prohibited from selling alcohol).
10. The Maldives is the smallest Muslim country in the world.
11. The Maldives are located almost on the equator, and therefore the temperature in the Maldives does not fall below +27 ° C all year round.
12. Flight time from Moscow to Male is about 8 hours.
13. The Maldivian currency is the rufiyaa and the laari. 1 Maldivian rufiyaa is equal to 100 laari. 1 US dollar is approximately equal to 12 rufiyaa.
14. Burqa for Maldivian women is optional. Rather, on the contrary, according to a recently adopted law, no one has the right to completely cover their faces in a public place.
15. 25.7% of the country's population lives in Male.
16. Maldivians often call each other by their last names instead of their first names.
17. Maldivians usually do not greet each other. If a tourist says “good morning” to a Maldivian, he can only get a smile or a nod in return.
18. The Maldives is the most popular honeymoon destination in the world.
19. Male Island is only 2 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide.
20. The main attraction in Male is the Great Friday Mosque, decorated with a golden dome. The Islamic Center is located on its territory. This is the largest mosque in the Maldives.
21. There are simply no alcohol shops in the towns, and tourists are forbidden to import alcoholic beverages.
22. There is usually one hotel on one island.
23. The first island hotel opened in 1972 and is called Kurumba Maldives. Distance from the capital Male - 3.2 km.
24. The village of Male, the namesake of the capital of the Maldives, is located in the Komi Republic, Russian Federation.
25. According to Maldivian law, the height of hotel buildings cannot exceed the tallest palm tree on the island.
26. Since the founding of the first hotel in the Maldives, there has not been a single case of shark attacks on people.
27. English language is the main subject in the school.
28. The artificially built-up area of the hotel cannot occupy more than 20% of the total area land plot islands.
29. Approximately half of all hotels are owned by Maldivian businessmen, another quarter by foreigners and the rest are joint ventures.
30. The largest island of the Maldives has a size of 4500 meters by 1200 meters and is called Fuvahmulah.
31. "No news, no shoes - Maldives" - the slogan is true. Shoes there are an unnecessary excess, and there is no news at all. No newspapers, no television.
32. The main atolls of the Maldives: Baa and Ari, Nilande and Laviyani.
33. From 1558 to 1573 the Maldives were ruled by Portugal. Further, in the 17th century, power over the Maldives passed into the hands of the Netherlands. And in 1887, Great Britain took control of the Maldives. In 1965, the Maldives finally gained independence.
34. Despite the fact that the Maldives consists of 1190 islands, the total land area is only 115 square kilometers.
35. Tourism and fishing are the main sources of income in the Maldives.
36. The highest point in the Maldives is located on the island of Vilingili and its height is 2.4 meters!
37. Male is one of the smallest capitals in the world (an area of about 1.8 sq. km) and one of the most densely populated cities on the planet.
38. By religion, the Maldivians are Sunni Muslims.
39. There are prohibitions that apply throughout the country, even in resort areas. First, tourists and local residents you can’t swim without swimsuits, that is, completely naked, and secondly, spearfishing is prohibited. The only place in the archipelago for nudists and topless sunbathers is Kuramati Island.
40. The flag of the Republic of Maldives is a red panel with a green rectangle in the center. The green and red colors of the Maldivian flag express the desire for success and victory, and the crescent moon symbolizes the state's adherence to Islam.
41. Not all islands are open to tourists. To be on a non-resort island open to the public, you need to obtain a special permit indicating the name of the place.
42. The queen of the local flora is the coconut palm.
43. There are practically no cars and other “steel horses” in the Maldives, even bicycles are rare, and the highway is laid only in the capital and in the resort of Gan.
44. Families here are large - 5 - 9 people each, men mainly fish, and women manage the housework.
45. Before Islamization, matriarchy reigned in the Maldives, but now the strong half of humanity dominates the family and society. All important decisions remain with men, as well as the right to be the first to sit at the table.
47. In this country there is a colossal number of divorces - the highest% among the states that have joined the UN. The reason is that lovers are punished with sticks for extramarital affairs, and even if the passion lasts a few months, the relationship is sealed with an alliance.
48. The interior of the Maldivian dwelling is incredibly simple - just a few hammocks, bench beds, and a swing in the yard.
49. Each Maldivian can marry a maximum of 4 women. But today, a rare Muslim is able to support more than 2 wives - after all, each of them will have to build a separate house ..
50. From time immemorial, the outfits of the islanders have remained unchanged - a loincloth in the form of bloomers and a turban, or a scarf. Unless in the capital they dress in a European way.
51. The most famous Maldivian dance is called Bodu Beru. About 20 people perform it to the sounds of chants, accompaniment of bass drums and “onugadu” bamboo.
53. The day off in the Republic of Maldives, when the entire population visits the mosque - Friday. The second official weekend is Saturday.
54. Islamic holidays fall on different dates every year, because moon calendar counts only 354 days a year and is 12 days shorter than the sun.
55. The main ingredients of Maldivian cuisine are rice and gifts from the Indian Ocean, but they cook it in a special way: freshly caught fish is not in a hurry to send it to the kitchen, but is first dried in the sun until it hardens.
56. Tee-shops sell exotic treats such as rose and orange milk, sweet raa palm juice, and the Aboriginal favorite coffee powder.
57. The most delicious and popular fish is Mediterranean tuna, local treats include chicken with rice and vegetables, generously flavored with spices.
58. All variations of dishes from coconut, as well as local fish, magically act on male power, turning ordinary lovers into gurus of sexual pleasures. After the Maldivian diet, you can safely start a harem!
59. The main type of recreation in the Maldives is snorkeling and diving.
60. Time in the Maldives is one hour ahead of Moscow time.
61. Under the influence of the northeast monsoons, the climate is dry from November to March and under the influence of the southwest monsoons, it is rainy from June to August.
62. In the Maldives, opened a glass room for honeymooners at the bottom of the Indian Ocean. Initially, the premises were used as a restaurant of one of the hotels of the Conrad Hotels chain, but in honor of the fifth anniversary of the hotel, the restaurant was converted into a room.
63. Going to the Maldives, take money, not beer! In hotels and restaurants, alcohol is expensive, and its import into the country is prohibited.
64. A strange feeling of unsteadiness will visit you when the plane starts to descend straight into the ocean and only at the last moment will run along the runway, exactly the width of the wingspan. Next up is water.
65. The peak of the tourist season falls on the winter months and August.
66. The equatorial sun will surprise you not with its pungency, but rather with its density - you can decently tan in the shade of palm trees.
67. For drugs, they can be left in this warm place for 25 years.
68. It is imperative to go into the water in special slippers. Coral fragments are very sharp.
69. Of the dangerous marine life in the Maldives, there is a stone fish. It is considered one of the most poisonous fish in the world.
70. Life in the Maldives is quite expensive, as there is virtually no production. Apart from canned fish, clothes and bricks, they do nothing.
71. A salary of $ 400 (paid in hotels) is considered small, so many visiting Sri Lankans work in the tourism sector. Fishermen earn more.
72. Houses are now built from foam blocks, earlier from coral.
73. A liter of gasoline costs $1.
74. Maldivian rufiyaas are very cool - with palm trees, boats and shells. Despite their currency, green is accepted everywhere.
75. Papaya grows in many “in the garden”.
76. Parks and areas in front of the hotels of the Maldives are planted with roses, orchids, marshmallows, hibiscus, white, yellow and pink plumeria, the delicate aroma of which fills the area.
77. The number of motorcycles in Male is amazing. They are everywhere! Some townspeople have two or three motorcycles.
78. Tipping in the Maldives is not officially accepted. Of course, if you want, no one forbids you to thank the staff - a hotel employee - $ 10, a waiter - 5% of the bill.
79. The National Emblem includes the Coconut Tree, the Crescent and the Star.
80. The political system is democracy, the head of state is the president.
81. Any Maldivian island can be crossed in 1.5 - 2 hours.
82. The most popular type of water transport is Doni boats (speed 7 knots per hour).
83. According to the Maldivian laws, it is forbidden to break living and non-living corals, to fish near the islands. The fine is $500.
84. It is impossible to hire a car in order to drive it personally in the Maldives.
85. There are no dogs in the Maldives because their keeping is prohibited.
86. There are about 5,000 species of mollusks in the Maldivian waters.
87. Birthdays are usually not celebrated, often they are not even remembered.
88. Maldivians pray five times a day. during prayer, all television programs are stopped, even BBC World and foreign satellite channels.
89. Tourist resort islands are classified as “uninhabited”, a result of the policy that only truly uninhabited islands can be leased out to be converted into tourist areas.
90. Citizenship is given only to Muslims, and only to those who have already lived in the Maldives for several years.
91. The classification of hotels “by stars” is not accepted in the Maldives.
92. The Maldives is considered one of the oldest states in the world. The islands were discovered as early as 2000 BC. (they are the same age as Egypt).
93. It is in the Maldives that they catch fish for aquariums.
94. For the convenience of tourists, who often find it difficult to pronounce the names of the atolls, the Government has decided to designate them with letters. You can see these letters on the boats following on this or that atoll.
95. Even without knowing how to swim, you can admire the corals, standing up to your waist in the water - it is so transparent.
96. In the 1st millennium AD e. The Maldives was inhabited by Sinhalese, Indians and Malays who professed Buddhism. From the 12th century along with the Arab merchants began the penetration of Islam.
97. National anthem: "We salute all of you who value national unity."
98. The discoverer of the islands is the traveler Marco Polo, who gave them the name "flower of the Indian Ocean."
99. In the Maldives, you can visit the underwater restaurant at the Hilton Maldives hotel resort and Spa, which is designed for only 14 visitors. The uniqueness of the restaurant, called "Itha", which means "pearl" in the local Dhivehi language, lies in the fact that, being entirely made of glass, it is located under water: above it is a five-meter thickness of Indian Ocean waters, and around it is the colorful world of coral reefs. .
100. And finally - beware of coconuts! Do not place sun loungers directly under the palm trees, because if a two-kilogram nut that fell down from a 15-meter height lands on your head, at best, this will only end your vacation.
When writing the article, materials from the Internet were used.
A paradise island in the Indian Ocean - this is how we imagine the Republic of Maldives. However, life in the country is very different from advertising pictures for tourists. We offer you to get acquainted with the most unusual facts about the Maldives.
The exiled prince founded the state in the Maldives
Since ancient times, the Maldives have been significant islands due to their location near numerous trade routes. Indians were the first colonizers here. exact date this event remains unknown, but there is a version that it happened in 269 BC. Legend has it that there was no government in the Maldives, but a small community of peaceful people who worshiped water and the sun lived here. The first kingdom here was created by the son of the Indian king Kalinga named Sri Soorudasaruna Adeettiya, who somehow angered his father and was exiled to the Maldives for this. There is also a legend about copper plates on which there was information about a princess who was expelled from her native island and sent here in the 1100s. In the XIV century, the plates were allegedly found by a group of scientists, translated and buried in the sand. Since then they have been lost forever.
98% literate population
The Maldives is very proud of its adult literacy rate - it reaches 98%. This is a huge leap forward from 70% in 1978. Residents are very dispersed across all the islands (and there are about 200 of them), which makes it very difficult to establish a centralized education system, and for 35% of the country's inhabitants under 18 years of age, education is the main key to future success. With the help of UNICEF, a unified educational program was developed in 1978. A special training center was built, which, using the Internet, allows you to study with the inhabitants of the scattered islands. The curriculum is designed in such a way that both children and their parents or guardians can learn. As a result, 100% of children study in primary school. For comparison, studies by the US Department of Education have shown that the literacy of the US population over the past 10 years has remained at the same level - 14% of the adult population is still illiterate.
"Underwater" meetings
Climate change and rising sea levels are a real threat to the Maldives. A number of islands have already been evacuated - rising ocean levels have led to the destruction of fresh water sources. To draw attention to these issues, President Mohamed Nasheed in October 2009 moved the meeting room to ... the ocean. The president and 13 officials settled down at the desks, which were drowned in water. This was to remind everyone present of the threats that the ocean carries. Mohamed also wanted to draw attention to sustainable development issues, such as using the sun, water and wind to generate energy, as well as reduce harmful emissions.
Ocean inhabitants of the Maldives
Seeing a whale or a dolphin live in its natural habitat is considered quite rare, but not in the Maldives. Here you can be guaranteed to see from 1500 to 2500 thousand whales and dolphins. At any time of the year, there are 10 to 12 species of these animals that live in the coral reefs of the Maldives. In addition to pygmy sperm whales and killer whales, here you can see striped and spotted dolphins, as well as bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales. The population of dolphins of one species can reach 200 individuals. In addition, the Maldives is known for the opportunity to see here the largest fish in the world - the whale shark. Its dimensions can reach up to 10 meters and to see it in its natural habitat is a truly unique sight.
Muslim nation
Tourists should remember that the inhabitants of the Maldives are strict Muslims, so the implementation of all local laws and traditions is necessary condition. Sharia and Jafari schools are represented on the islands. The originally Buddhist people of the Maldives underwent religious reforms in the 12th century thanks to the preachers of Islam who accompanied traders and merchants on all long voyages. In the 16th century, the islands were colonized by the Portuguese, who tried to instill Christianity, but they failed to do so, and it all ended in bloodshed. With the advent of its own government, the "position" of the king began to be regarded as a sacred place that Allah approved. By law, the President and all members of the government of the Republic of Maldives must be Sunni Muslims.
Forced resignation
The Maldives has always been a place of strict religious beliefs and active politics. In 2012, President Mohamed Nasheed was forced to step down at gunpoint after three weeks of protests. On the day he resigned, about 50 people were injured on the streets besides the president - the police used tear gas. It all started when Nasheed ordered the arrest of associates of his predecessor for interfering in an investigation into corruption and human rights violations. Nasheed was replaced by a vice president who denied any evidence of forced resignations, attacks or conspiracies.
alcohol ban
As we have already said, due to the strict rules of Islam, tourists are required to strictly obey all laws and traditions during their stay on the island. Alcohol is prohibited everywhere, except for resorts, and it is strictly forbidden to take it out of there. Everything that infringes on the beliefs of Muslims is considered illegal import - the second product after alcohol is pork. During Ramadan, tourists should avoid eating, smoking and drinking during daylight hours. Some establishments are still ready to please tourists, but they are carefully hidden from prying eyes. And contrary to many photos that are taken in the Maldives, appearing naked or topless on the beach is absolutely unacceptable, even on the resort islands.
Public spanking is still in vogue
Under the laws of the Maldives, all people are equal and deserve the same protection in case of anything. But given the piety of the population, sometimes the laws of religion become more important than the laws of the country. As a consequence, those found guilty of adultery may be subjected to public flogging. The vast majority of victims of this punishment are women. So, in 2006, 184 people were sentenced to public flogging for extramarital sex, of which only 38 were men. Amnesty International became involved in this conflict when it claimed human rights violations. The main argument was the fact that dissatisfaction with the rules was kept quiet for fear of incurring even worse consequences. In 2009, an 18-year-old mother was whipped 100 times before being sent to the hospital to heal her wounds. She did not admit to the charges, but was named guilty because she was pregnant. The two men accused along with her were acquitted.
Religious intolerance
The Maldives is not only notorious for its religious devotion, but also for its religious intolerance. It is worth insulting or disrespecting something - and the threat of going to jail will become quite real. Alcohol, drugs, same-sex sex and pornography can lead to jail. The constitution of the Maldives was written in 1997. It clearly states that the citizens of the islands must be Muslims - this automatically prohibits any other religion. Religion is also tightly integrated into the educational curriculum. Freedom of speech is extremely limited, so verbiage of any kind is not common. Traditions are so strong that foreigners were specially invited to work with tourists so that the citizens of the Maldives would stay away from dubious things and entertainment.
Elections rigged ... coconut
Many residents of the Maldives are still full of faith in supernatural forces, including black and white magic. In September 2013, the police “detained” ... a coconut. His presence near the polling station seemed very strange to the law enforcement officers, and the main accusation against the coconut was election fraud. This is due to the belief that coconuts are often used in rituals of black magic. The police called in a white magician to check the dangerous fruit for threats and curses. None of this was found, and all charges against the coconut were dropped.
