What is the sea in the Maldives? Which sea or ocean washes the Maldives. Which ocean is in the Maldives.

Republic of Maldives.

Country Summary

There are unusually beautiful mosques on the islands, and if you stay a little on the islands, you can immediately feel how important religion is here. On all the islands, residents pray several times a day.

When visiting the mosque, you can see what interesting ancient paintings cover their walls. They depict scenes from history and are designed to strengthen the spirit of the inhabitants of the archipelago, to control their upbringing and thoughts. Mosques also host important official meetings and events.

But religion peacefully coexists with modernity. For example, the minaret of the famous Islamic Center, built more than twenty years ago, peacefully coexists with the post office building. The Islamic center is included in the list of the most beautiful Asian mosques. The authorities took special care of its erection in order to strengthen the nation in this way.

Official currency Rufiyaa (Maldive rupee) = 100 lari, 1 USD = 12 rufiyaa. In circulation there are banknotes of 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 rufiyaas and coins of 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 lari. Mains voltage Mains voltage - 220 V. Climate The climate is tropical, warm, even due to the proximity of the equator, without significant temperature fluctuations throughout the year. The best weather conditions are from November to the end of April (northeast monsoon): the sea is calm, the weather is sunny, hot and dry. Sometimes in June-July there are short rains, but they are not so long - 20-25 minutes, and the sun shines again. From May to October - the monsoon season: heavy rains, high humidity, storms. The average daily maximum is +30.4°C. The average night minimum is +25.4°С. The water temperature is +24–27°C all year round.

During the monsoon cycle (spring and autumn), intense tropical storms and thunderstorms have recently become more frequent.

Finance

Where to change US dollars are accepted almost everywhere. Therefore, it is not at all necessary to exchange dollars for local currency upon arrival.

The American dollar is preferred especially by banks, where only dollars are exchanged for you. Exchange offices sometimes accept other world currencies, but this is not the rule.

In resort areas, you can find exchange offices on almost every corner. Money can be exchanged in large hotels. The exchange rate is almost the same everywhere, a little more favorable in Male than in hotels.

Credit Cards Most hotels, shops, gas stations, car rentals, large shopping malls and restaurants accept payment cards, especially American Express, VISA, MasterCard and EuroCard. There is only one ATM in the Maldives from which you can draw from the account of foreign banks. You will find it in Male in front of the HSBC bank building. Shopping Souvenir products can be purchased in special shops in the resorts, which are open until late evening hours, souvenir shops in fishing villages and Male (Chandani Magu Street).

The diverse craft hobbies of the locals will give you a rich selection of all kinds of knick-knacks and really beautiful rare items.

Typical souvenirs are usually beautiful sea shells, shark jaws (a favorite souvenir of tourists), coconut oil, original silk clothes, sculptures carved from coconut wood, beautiful wooden utensils, painted souvenir plates, colorful fish figurines, paintings by local artists, coral jewelry, sarongs, wood crafts (hand-sawn red and black figurines), coconut monkeys.

On one of the islands, lovely painted boxes and jewelry are produced. They are made from a tree called funa.

On another island, you will find another original souvenir - wicker rugs, which are very light and pretty, they are made, like hand-made cane boxes.

Tourists very often buy wooden miniatures of Dhoni ships or sailboats. Usually Sri Lanka or Indian teas, smoking pipes, fans or sets are brought from the Maldives. You can also buy a CD with local traditional or contemporary music.

Things made from various stones will please you. This is not surprising, since the carving tradition here is very old, carefully passed on to the younger generations.

In Male, you can profitably buy high-quality foreign-made diving equipment and equipment.

Export from the country of black corals, products from a tortoise shell is prohibited.

Tipping Tipping is not officially accepted in the Maldives. But if the service was worth it, then unofficially, no one forbids to thank the attendants with a small amount: a hotel employee - $ 10, a waiter - 5%.

Some resorts add a service charge to the bill (usually 10%), in which case tipping is not necessary.
Taxi Services Classic auto taxis are available only in the capital Male, Gan and Addu atolls. The trip is paid at the rate of 15Rf plus 5Rf for luggage during the day and 20Rf after 24:00. Any stop, even for a minute, automatically ends the trip, which must be paid immediately. If you want to continue the trip, you will have to pay all over again.

There are several taxi services (work around the clock), all cars are equipped with air conditioning. Taxis can be stopped on the street or called by phone (in this case, the trip will cost 10Rf).

Public transport There is no public transport as such. Because most of the islands are so small that transportation is simply not needed there. There is no spectacle familiar to us - a large accumulation of cars, the most common types of land transport are bicycles and motorcycles.

Basically, they use the services of water transport here - a local taxi can be called a wooden boat with a flat roof - dhoni. This is a traditional multi-purpose vessel, now upgraded with diesel engines. On this modest boat, you can swim to the island you need. As a rule, as a sign of greeting, tourists are immediately put on a wreath of pink or white flowers around their necks, offered refreshing, fragrant napkins and coconut milk. Large boats are called Vedis and are used for long journeys to distant atolls.

You can safely bargain with private carriers. There is no timetable, ships sail as they fill with passengers.

Car rental In Male and other major islands you can rent a car.

Road traffic is practically not regulated, there are no markings and road signs, or they have long been destroyed, there are also no traffic lights. The traffic speed is low, but drivers never give way to pedestrians, so you should be extremely careful on the few Maldivian roads.

customs control

To pass customs control at the airport in Male, you must present all things for inspection, including hand luggage. It must be remembered that:

Import prohibited:

Any narcotic substances, including psychotropic
- pornographic materials recorded for viewing video cassettes with films, etc. Only sealed cassettes are allowed
- anti-Islamic literature
- military paraphernalia
- any pork products
- alcohol
- animals
- gunpowder / explosives / firearms / piercing, cutting objects and - - weapons for spearfishing.

As for "objects of religious worship", this can mean anything that can harm the official religion of the Maldives - Islam. A small decorative cross around the neck is unlikely to be considered dangerous, but a large cross with a conspicuous figure of the crucified Christ may be banned from importation. The same applies to images of the Buddha: a small table figurine may not cause objections from customs officers, unlike a large and noticeable one. Surely they will seize the Bible, although they do not specifically search for this item. In any case, it is better to respect the feelings of Muslims

If the above items are present in your baggage, when passing through customs control, they will be confiscated from you and placed in a special compartment at Male airport in exchange for a receipt describing the confiscated item. Upon departure from the country, you can get the seized back by presenting this receipt.

Allowed to import into the country:
- goods for personal consumption within reason (no more than one item per person);
- goods 200 cigarettes;
- 125 ml of perfumes.

It is forbidden to export from the country:

Black coral and products from it (except for souvenirs made by officially certified by the government manufacturers);
- objects and things found at the bottom of the sea.

Allowed to export from the country:

Gifts and souvenirs (shells; shark jaws; postcards, posters, shorts, T-shirts with local symbols, etc.);
- household items: thin-woven reed mats; wooden boxes; baskets woven from palm leaves;
- Coconut oil;
- jewelry.

Transport

The Maldives is a network of islands, both inhabited and uninhabited, completely surrounded by water. There are no regular transport links on the islands.

Transport in the Maldives is a boat. The only human invention capable of moving tourists, and even local residents, to a certain island. Tourists upon arrival in the Maldives can rent boats for independent movement, but before you rent a boat, do not forget to agree on a price in advance so as not to get into a conflict situation. The islands are scattered very close to each other, so the trip will not be tiring.

Almost all tourists visiting the islands come here by plane. Male International Airport is located on the island of Hulule, at a distance of 1 km (10 minutes by national boat "dhoni") from the capital of the Maldives - Male.

Due to the peculiarities of the geography of the archipelago, most of the transportation is carried out by seaplanes, helicopters and boats. The seaplane is possible only during daylight hours according to the schedule (from 07:00 to 16:00). It should be remembered that hydroaviation does not fly to all atolls. The deHavilland Twin Otter seaplane, notable for its robust construction and high maneuverability, also known as the DHC-6, is capable of descending smoothly and carrying up to 20 passengers. The plane sits on the water, and a boat delivers you to the pier (jet).

There are 2 air carriers in the country - Maldivian Air Taxi and Hummingbird Island Airways. The prices are quite high, it is somewhat cheaper to order a plane through the hotel administration or a travel agency. In addition, the companies offer sightseeing flights and day trips with picnics to uninhabited islands for 250 USD. (approximately). You can take up to 20 kg of luggage with you free of charge plus 5 kg of hand luggage.

Any Maldivian island can be crossed in 1.5 - 2 hours. However, tourism in the Maldives is regulated and independent movement within the islands is not encouraged, as this may have a negative impact on traditional island communities.

If you decide to have a full vacation, and are not constrained by money, then a rather expensive helicopter is at your service, but you will not only quickly arrive at the required place, but also admire the Maldives from above.

You can make a trip to the outer islands, but it is impossible to see everything at once. A travel permit between the atolls is required to visit islands located outside the tourist area; permits are issued by the Ministry of Atoll Management only to people who are invited by the inhabitants of those islands and atolls.

Telecommunications

For local and international calls, it is recommended to buy Dhiraagu calling cards (cost 30, 50, 100, 200 and 500 rufiyaas). You can buy cards in a special store "Dhiiraagu Teleshop" in Male, as well as from card sellers on any of the major islands.

There are no public telephones on a number of islands, and communication is carried out from call centers (they usually work from Sunday to Thursday from 7.30 to 20.00, on Fridays - from 14.00 to 18.00, on Saturdays - from 9.00 to 18.00), serviced by telephone operators. The cost of a call depends on the distance and is somewhat higher than from a pay phone. From 24.00 to 06.00 the cost of a call is 20% cheaper.

The Maldives also has a mobile connection of the GSM-900 standard. Mobile phones of most standards do not work in the Maldives, but you can rent a phone at the office of the local operator "Dhiraagu". More detailed advice can be obtained from the office of your mobile operator.

Calls to Russia To call to Russia: +7 - area code - subscriber's number. Calls from Russia To call the Maldives, dial: 8 - 10 - 960 - subscriber's number. Area Codes The phone code for the Maldives is 960. Useful Phones Useful Phones

Reference phones:
Reference telephone network - 110.
International telephone operator - 190.
The operator of communication between the atolls is 188.
Meteorological Service - 317-171.
Male Airport Information - 332-211.
Maldives Tourism Development Bureau - 323-228.
Customs Department - 322-001, 310-045.

Emergency services:
Police (rescue service) - 119.
National Security Service - 313-281.
Fire department - 118.
Ambulance - 102.

National cuisine

The cuisine is based on two fundamental ones: Arabic and Indian. Local cuisine usually includes rice, fish curry cooked with coconut milk. Limes, chili and small onions add piquancy to dishes. No dish is unthinkable without spices. An important place in cooking is occupied by sauces, their preparation is akin to the sacrament of a cook in the Maldives.

Rice is used in cooking in all variations - boiled in coconut milk, with various vegetables, peppers, the same fish or marine arthropods, as well as with bananas, papaya, mangoes, pumpkins, sweet potatoes or breadfruit.

The local roshi bread is very popular and is usually eaten with mashuni, a fish cocktail flavored with coconut, onion, chili and lime.

The main and favorite dish for the islands - tuna with rice - may not be the same, because this time it can be seasoned with a completely different sauce.

Dishes in which fish appears as the main ingredient are very diverse, from simple boiled fish, meatballs and soups, to fish cocktails and fish pies.

Popular hikimas - dried and smoked fish. Also good is a pie with fish, coconut and onion bajiya, the most delicate fish pie coolie borkihaa (kulhi borkihaa). Also traditional fish soup and garudia rice, tuna patties with gulu coconut, baked fish with chili paste fihunu mas (fihunu mas), fried keemia fish rolls, rihaukuru fish pate, fried fish with pepper and garlic teluli mae and others

You can finish your lunch with suji, a very tasty local drink. The locals brew raa, a sweet and delicious palm juice extracted from the top of a palm tree trunk. In the heat, juices are very good, local sweet milk kiru sarbat, sweet palm juice raa, suji drink and low-alcohol drink gaa from fermented palm milk. Alcoholic drinks can only be bought in hotels, and it is advisable to drink them only indoors, otherwise you risk getting into trouble.

Dessert dish, most likely, will be coconut in any form. Areca nut (an oval nut with betel leaves, cloves and lime) is eaten in the afternoon. If you want to taste local sweets, try bondi (bondi) - white coconut sticks - very tasty! Coconut milk, various puddings, vegetable and fruit salads and pastries are widely used.

A popular drink in the Maldives is tea, which is served with milk. Another drink that you can see more often than others is coffee brewed in Arabic.

In addition to coconuts and bananas, few vegetables and fruits grow on the islands, so most of the products offered at tourist resorts are imported by the Maldives.

Institutional work

Store hours are variable. Most, especially on the larger islands, are open from 07.00-08.00 to 21.00-23.00, but in the summer many shops are open from 13.00-15.00 to 18.00-20.00.

In Male, banks and exchange offices are concentrated on Marine Drive. They are open from 8.00 to 13.30, from Sunday to Thursday (as in many other Muslim countries, Friday and Saturday are days off in the Maldives).

Holidays and non-working days

Holidays in the Maldives are based on the Islamic lunar calendar. This means that every year the holidays are on different days. You will feel the festive atmosphere mainly in the capital, as on this day most shops will be closed. In other cities or regions, you will hardly feel the full grandeur of the holiday.

Usually families gather on holidays, everyone cooks food for the festive table together, decorates and organizes fun. Traditional music is playing, people are dancing, you can hear wooden instruments and modern jazz and pop music.

Holidays:

January 1 - New Year.
January 8-10 - Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
March 15-18 - Eid al Kebir (Day of Sacrifice).
April 6 - Islamic New Year.
June 4-5 - National holiday.
June 15 - Mulud (Birthday of the Prophet).
July 26-27 - Independence Day.
November 11-12 - Republic Day.
September 1 - Huravi Day.
October 28 - Martyrs' Day.
November 3 - Victory Day.

customs and practices

Despite the fact that the Maldives, as an Islamic state, is relatively liberal, visitors to the country must carefully abide by the laws.

Rightfully considered one of the oldest states in the world, the Maldives today can tell you a lot and surprise you a lot. Here you need to constantly remember that the main religion is Islam. And so you need to adhere to the established etiquette.

The usual form of greeting for the Maldivians is a handshake, they officially greet "salaam alaikum", the word "kihenen" greet each other in an informal setting. A carefree and simple existence in harmony with nature is the Maldivian way of life.

In the Maldives, musical traditions that arose in the old days are alive. This applies to music, crafts, dances. Musically, the Maldives are unique and inimitable. You will learn that three styles of song performance have been preserved here, each of which is individual and has its own name.

You will no doubt hear about Bodu Beru. This is both a song and a dance that is performed during the holidays. Once upon a time it was brought from the African continent. Dances are also performed according to tradition, there are several different popular national dances that you will be recommended to watch. For example, Bodu Beru, a costumed dance, is danced by fifteen people, in addition, there is a singer and three drummers play.

There are dances both for women and purely for men - this is what tradition prescribes. The male-only dance, Dhandi Jehun, lasts about an hour and is performed without regard to any event. But the female dance - Boaymalaafas Neshun, reflecting a tradition that has long disappeared, but existed - bringing gifts to the Sultan. This dance is considered one of the most important and interesting dances in the Maldives.

Artistic Maldivians complement the natural beauty of exotic coral islands. Fishing for them is both leisure and profession at the same time. Especially striking is the local hospitality. This trait is passed down from generation to generation among the Maldivians. The Maldives is a place where a tourist is always a welcome guest.

Precautionary measures

Precautionary measures:

Buy water in plastic bottles.
- The Maldives is a Muslim country, therefore, the laws are appropriate, therefore, for those who like to drink, the road here is either simply closed or they must refrain from this unprofitable pleasure.
- collecting corals and, moreover, taking them out of the country is a criminal offense
- it is forbidden to break, tear live and dead corals in the ocean and near the coast, damage the shells and raise them to the surface, fish near the islands, throw any garbage on the islands, for this it is necessary to use dustbins to avoid problems
- you can not visit the capital Male and the islands where the locals live, and are in beachwear
- it is also forbidden to wear things that do not cover the body from the shoulder to the knee
If you are going to the beach, regular beachwear will do. But if you suddenly want to visit the fishing villages and the capital Male, then you should respect local laws and wear modest clothes.
- while diving and swimming, you should pay attention to the sharp edges of coral reefs, and also do not touch marine life, they can be poisonous

Penalties apply for violations!

This small country is located on 20 atolls in the equatorial Indian Ocean. More than 2000 km separates the Islamic Republic from India. The distance to Sri Lanka is much less: if you look at the Maldives on the world map, you can see that the states are about 700 km apart from each other.

Island Information

The state of Maldives is formed by almost 2000 coral islands. About 400 thousand people live here, and Islam is the dominant religion. The total area of ​​the Republic of Maldives is 90 thousand km 2, however, no more than 300 km 2 fall on the share of land from it.

Interestingly, the only city and port of the country is its capital, Male, located on the atoll of the same name. The remaining islets are almost uninhabited and only occasionally there are hotels on them.

The time in the Maldives is UTC +5, so when flying, you should prepare in advance for changing time zones.

Monthly weather in the Maldives

Climate features are determined by the location of the Maldives. It belongs to the subequatorial monsoon type, so the weather is drastically different in the dry and rainy seasons. Depending on the month of the trip, you have to prepare for the following:

January. A trip to the islands this month will definitely be successful due to the warm, sunny and calm weather and the calm that reigns in the ocean. Although technically January refers to the rainy season, the rainfall is minimal, which guarantees a wonderful beach holiday and the opportunity to go diving. In the daytime, the thermometer rises to at least +24 °C, and the water temperature averages +27 °C.

February. At this time, crowds of tourists usually flock here. The ocean continues to delight with a comfortable water temperature of +25 °C, and the daytime air temperature rarely drops below +28 °C. There are practically no waves, and the sky is perfectly blue and cloudless. Therefore, even inexperienced divers can start learning the tricks of diving, and the almost complete absence of precipitation allows you to ride a yacht or a catamaran to your heart's content.

March. This month is also considered to be quite hot and dry, and the average air and water temperatures differ little from February. The sand remains very warm, and there are practically no tropical showers. In March, many local flora bloom, but be prepared for occasional sandstorms.

April. At this time, the southwest monsoon comes to the Maldives, bringing with it a change in weather. Storms in the ocean are rare, the heat intensifies, but the rains here are still infrequent guests. If you cannot stand stuffiness, it is worth postponing the trip: the air temperature is mostly +30 °C, and the water temperature reaches +28 °C.

May. Very strong winds begin to blow, sometimes turning into hurricanes. There is much more precipitation: about half of the days in May are rainy. At the same time, the weather constantly surprises. The sun is replaced by heavy rain and vice versa.

June. This month continues the May trend as the southwest monsoon takes over. There are very strong gusts of warm wind. In June, the maximum precipitation typical for this region falls in the Maldives, but their amount rarely exceeds 200 mm. Ocean waves sometimes reach gigantic proportions. The thermometer stays at an average of +30 °C, and the water temperature in the ocean is +27 °C.

July. At this time, the islands are not very comfortable due to frequent rains. However, they quickly end, and soon the sky is partially cleared and the sun peeps through the clouds. In July, approximately 160 mm of precipitation falls, and the air temperature is +31 °C. In water, the thermometer usually shows +27 ° C. Thunderstorms are possible during which coolness is felt.

August. This month is considered the most changeable on the islands. In early August, the sea is quite warm and calm, winds and hurricanes practically stop. It rains relatively infrequently, and the atolls are still hot. But already at the end of the month, the sky becomes more and more covered with clouds, it often rains, and the wind intensifies.

September. Both day and night, the weather is predominantly warm, and the exhausting heat recedes. Remains quite high humidity, and precipitation falls up to 200 mm. The average number of rainy days in September is 15-16. Rains are often accompanied by severe thunderstorms, but the ocean remains quite warm with water temperatures around +27 °C.

October. The air temperature drops slightly to +27-29 °C, and the water temperature drops to +26 °C, which does not interfere with swimming at all. It rains much less often: usually no more than 100 mm of precipitation falls.

November. This month, the northeast monsoon arrives in the Maldives, bringing with it warm and dry weather. Winds and rains rarely bother tourists, and the thermometer on average shows +28 ° С. Water warms up to +25 °C.

December. At this time of the year, everything blooms on the islands, so they turn into a real tropical paradise. Daytime temperatures rise to +30-32 °С, and the water temperature in the ocean rarely drops below +25 °С.

How to get to the Maldives

In any guidebook, where you will find everything you wanted to know about the Maldives, it is indicated that the connection between the island state and the mainland is carried out exclusively by air. The country's only airport is located in the capital Male. You can get to it in the following ways:

Direct flight of Aeroflot from Moscow. New Airbus A-330-200 aircraft take off from the Russian capital twice a week: on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If it is important for you to know how long it takes to fly from Moscow on such a direct flight, you will have to be patient: the flight duration is approximately 9 hours.

Please note that when returning from the Maldives, you will have to pay an airport tax of 10 USD - 15 USD, which is not always included in the airfare.

A flight with a transfer of Qatar Airways (transfer point - Doha), Singapore Airlines (transfer point - Singapore) or Emirates Airlines (transfer point - Dubai). The cost of tickets for airliners of these air carriers already includes the airport tax.

On a Srilankan Airlines connecting flight. To do this, you will first have to fly to Dubai or Colombo and purchase a ticket to Male for 180 USD - 250 USD at the local airport. This is the most budget flight option for those who want to save money.

The average cost of a flight between the capitals of Russia and the Maldives ranges from 570 USD to 720 USD one way.

Visa to the Maldives and customs clearance

There is no need for residents of Russia and the CIS countries to obtain a visa to travel to the Maldives, since there is a visa-free agreement between the countries. However, given the dramatic change in climate and the exotic nature of the region, it does not hurt to purchase a medical insurance policy. Weekly insurance will cost about 25 USD - 45 USD.

It is very important to comply with the rules of the customs legislation of the Republic of Maldives. They talk about the following:

• You can import and export foreign currency in unlimited quantities.
• 125 ml of perfume or cologne and 200 cigarettes, as well as no more than one personal item per passenger, are allowed without payment of duty.
• It is strictly forbidden to transport with you pork and meat products from it, salami sausages, pornographic goods, drugs, souvenirs from the shell of a sea turtle or dark coral, as well as antiques found at the bottom of the ocean.

Be sure to note that the import and export of any alcoholic beverages in the Maldives is prohibited. Violation of this rule may result in arrest.

The cost of holidays in the Maldives

Many Russian celebrities such as Volochkova are very fond of relaxing in the Maldives. This is due to the very comfortable climate and reasonable prices for accommodation. If you are wondering how much a standard ticket to the Maldives costs, please note that it depends on the following factors:

• duration of the trip;
• hotel category;
• the island on which the hotel is located;
• food and entertainment included in the price;
• season.

The more services the hotel offers for vacationers (SPA, swimming pools, animation, sauna and much more), the more expensive the rest will be. If you are planning a trip for 7-8 days with booking a single or double room with half board and a minimum of entertainment, you will have to spend from 2600 USD to 5500 USD.

The wedding tour involves a romantic weekend for the newlyweds and will cost from 1750 USD to 2500 USD. The price includes decoration of the room, services of photographers and musicians, fruit, wine or champagne and a solemn wedding ceremony of an informal nature. An all-inclusive tour is suitable for those who want to completely relax during their trip. Its price - from 3500 USD to 7000 USD for a weekly stay in a 4 or 5 star hotel - includes three meals a day and free drinks throughout the stay.

Those who want to save money should pay attention to last-minute tours: they are usually 30% cheaper. Also, for the most budget holiday in the Maldives for 8 days, you will have to spend about 2000 USD if you book a room in an inexpensive three-star hotel without special amenities. The price includes airfare and medical insurance.

The Maldives is a real sunny paradise on earth, where you can easily recuperate after a long-awaited vacation.

- an island state in southern Asia, in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. There are more than 2000 small islands. Maritime borders lie in the Indian Ocean.

The name of the country comes from the Sanskrit dwipa - "island".

Official name: Republic of Maldives

Capital: Male

The area of ​​the land: 298 sq. km

Total population: 395 thousand people

Administrative division: The country is divided into 20 island groups.

Form of government: Republic.

Head of State: President elected for a term of 5 years.

Composition of the population: 99% are Maldivians (ethnogenesis is not completely clear), as well as Arabs and people from the African continent.

Official language: Maldivian (dhivehi). English is widely spoken in the capital Male and in the resorts.

Religion: Almost the entire population professes Sunni Islam.

Internet domain: .mv

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Phone country code: +960

Climate

Tropical marine. The temperature all year round on average does not fall below +25 C even at night. The average temperature is about +28 C all year round (daytime maximum - about +32 C, nighttime minimum - +25 C). Precipitation is about 2500 mm. per year, and most often in the form of short rains in the evening and at night. The water temperature is also constant - about + 24-27 C all year round.

The best weather conditions are observed during the "iruvai" period (from November-December to March-April, the northeast monsoon season), when the sea is calm and the weather is sunny and dry. From May to October, during the "hulhangu" season (April to October), the weather is less predictable - the southwest monsoon can bring intermittent rains, high humidity and rough seas (however, this period is the least hot). Storms and waves are most likely in June and December.

Geography

The island state of the Maldives is located 700 km. southwest of Sri Lanka, in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. Two almost parallel chains of islands, bordered by coral reefs, and lying at a relatively short distance from each other, stretch for 820 km. from North to South. In total, there are 1196 islands, forming 26 atolls, of which only 199 are inhabited and about 100 are open to the public. The total area of ​​the country is about 90 thousand square meters. km., land - only 298 sq. km.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

Forests cover no more than 3% of the area of ​​the islands. Coconut palms grow on many islands, which do not suffer from soil salinization, banana groves and a dense shrub cover, mangroves in some places, and banyan, pandanus and various thorny plants are found in the depths of the islands.

Animal world

Coastal waters abound with fish. Sea turtles are found, which for a long time were intensively exterminated by the population. Their meat and fat were used for food, and their shells were used for various handicrafts. Currently, turtles are on the verge of extinction and are protected by law. Since 1996, the Million Trees environmental protection program has been in operation. Within its framework, nurseries have been created in which seedlings are grown for further planting on the islands of the archipelago.

The traditional activities of the Maldivians are the collection of kauri shells and the cultivation of coconut palm, which gives copra, vegetable oil and palm leaves. Crops such as rice, taro, millet, corn, sweet potato, and cassava are also cultivated. Of the industries, fish processing is developed.

Attractions

The Maldives is widely known for its resort atolls, each of which is its own unique world, surrounded by the purest coral beaches and indescribably blue sea. This is a "place at the end of the world", where there is no noise of cities and annoying signs of civilization, where there is only exotic nature and endless expanses of the ocean.

Numerous underwater coral reefs and caves stretch throughout the Maldives archipelago, lush tropical vegetation emphasizes the pristine and unique beauty of the islands, and the ancient culture of the locals creates a unique setting for a secluded holiday.

Banks and currency

Maldivian rupees (rufiyaas). One rupee is equal to 100 lari. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 rupees. As well as coins of 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 lari. US dollars and major credit cards are accepted throughout, so it is not necessary to exchange dollars for local currency upon arrival.

In Male, banks and exchange offices are concentrated on Marine Drive. They are open from 8.00 to 13.30, from Sunday to Thursday (as in many other Muslim countries, Friday and Saturday are days off in the Maldives). Upon departure, the remaining rupees are allowed to be exchanged back into dollars. Currency exchange can be carried out not only in a bank, but also in a number of large stores, on which a special sign hangs next to the signs of international tourist cards.

Useful information for tourists

It is forbidden to drink alcohol in public places (outside the resort area). It is recommended to drink bottled water and soft drinks. Although local water is cleaned quite thoroughly (often it is desalinated sea water), it quickly becomes unusable due to high temperatures.

Traditional Islamic norms of behavior are strong in the country, but without the slightest sign of fanaticism. The restrictions are the same as in Oman. Photography is prohibited in mosques. The mosque guards usually insist on accompanying a tourist, expecting to take a fee, but in fact the mosque can be explored on your own. Nude swimming is prohibited on all islands of the archipelago, with the exception of Kuramati Island. You can bargain in the markets and in private shops, but the size of the "discount" is usually small.

Spearfishing and unauthorized fishing are prohibited (all types of sea fishing are freely organized in hotels), it is strictly forbidden to raise corals (both living and dead), shells and other marine life from the bottom of the sea. Large fines are levied for violations. The country has one of the largest markets in the region selling shells, corals and various exotic marine animals, so you can always buy these souvenirs without violating local laws.

Tipping is not officially accepted, but unofficially, if the service really deserves it, it is customary to leave a small amount to the personally serving worker (10 dollars a week for a hotel worker or 5% for a waiter). Some resorts include a service charge on the bill (usually 10%), in which case tipping is not necessary. In the case of renting a boat or boat, the amount should be discussed in advance.

Mira, first you need to find India on it. This is not difficult - the peninsula on which this state is located is located in the south of Asia and has the shape of a triangle. From the southernmost point of this exotic country, it is necessary to mentally draw a line to the southwest. It is there that a large group of atolls is located - coral islands, which are called the Maldives.

Atolls are a closed or broken ring formed by the mouth of an extinct volcano, that is, in the middle of such an "island" there is a lagoon filled with sea water.

The distance to India is approximately 700 km, it is worth noting that the atolls are located on a fairly large area, so the southernmost ones are 1,000 km away. The Maldives is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean and, due to its proximity to the equator, has a unique climate with almost constant temperature throughout the year and only two distinct seasons - dry and rainy.

Due to their volcanic origin, the islands have a low altitude (only about two meters) and a rather poor fauna - only a few species of mammals live here. But the underwater world is very diverse.

State of Maldives

However, much remains of the British, including the name, it is a distorted Hindi word: "" - the palace and "diva" - the island. The capital of the state of the Republic of Maldives is the city of Male, which, by the way, is the only settlement that has such a status.

The Maldivians are Muslims, more specifically Sunnis. In the 12th century, a Muslim preacher landed on the islands, who founded a dynasty that ruled until the arrival of the Portuguese, the Dutch, and later the British.

How to get to the Maldives

Endless white sandy beaches, warm and transparent sea surface, picturesque lagoons and bays in the Maldives speak for themselves, but most of all tourists are attracted by high quality service and comfort in hotels.

Maldives on the world map

The fabulous Republic of Maldives is located near the equator in the South region.

This island state, consisting of a small number of picturesque atolls, has long been one of the most desirable vacation spots for honeymooners.

In total, there are about 26 atolls in the state, one of the most significant and largest among them is the atoll called Male. It is here that the capital of the Republic of Maldives with the same name Male is located. Since ancient times, the king lived on these island territories, so many ancient masterpieces of architecture have been preserved here. Most of the local population also lives in this region.

Republic of Maldives

The total number of islands that make up the state reaches almost 1.2 thousand. All of them are interconnected in a single double chain of atolls, and also formed on the basis of an underwater mountain range about 1000 kilometers long. The largest island in the country is called Gan. Not all island possessions of the Republic of Maldives are inhabited by people. Hundreds of small corners of paradise are still waiting in the wings and shine with unprecedented and untouched beauty. Only one sixth of all the Maldives is inhabited. The total area of ​​the territories occupied by the Maldives is about 300 square kilometers, the local population barely reaches 393 thousand people.
The relief of the country is flat, so you should not look for massive mountains and lowlands here. Sandy and only slightly rise above sea level. The high-altitude peak of the Maldives archipelago is considered to be a point called Sienu with a height of about 2.5 meters. It is located in the southern part of the luxurious Addu Atoll. As for the sources of fresh water, they are represented by groundwater and several rivers, which can only be observed after the rainy season. In especially dry periods of time, they completely disappear.
The flora in the Maldives is quite scarce and is represented only by some herbaceous plants, banyan trees and palm trees. The industrious local population is also diligently engaged in the cultivation of papaya, tropical fruits, hot peppers, eggplant and many other crops. There are no forests in the Maldives, but the luxurious branches of palm trees along the beaches shelter travelers from the scorching sun and bring long-awaited coolness.
Separately, we should talk about the features of the local animal world. Tourists simply adore these islands not only for their natural splendor, but also for the absence of dangerous wild animals and reptiles. The eyes are pleasing to the birds living on the islands, flying foxes and mice, and the underwater world opens up an even more mysterious and fascinating world for travelers. That is why the Maldives is a favorite place for divers from all over the world.

Flag of the Republic of Maldives

Until 1965, the Maldives was part of the territorial possessions of Great Britain (the remnants of the British Territory are located to the south of the islands), but already in July of the same year, the republic received its long-awaited independence and the state flag. The cloth of the national Maldivian flag is a rich red rectangle, in the center of which is another bright green rectangle with a snow-white crescent in the middle.

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Recently, these islands have become especially popular among honeymooners. Couples in love prefer not to be disturbed, so they choose deserted islands, which are more than enough in this country. Particular attention should be paid. Tourists have a wide choice of comfortable rooms in picturesque wooden bungalows right on the water or in more modern hotel complexes, but sailing lovers can even settle on a yacht so as not to break away from their favorite business.
One of the trendiest local activities is diving. The boundless ocean expanses and the nearby Laccadian Sea attract experienced divers from all over the world, and especially for beginners, there are several professional specialized diving schools where you can get all the necessary equipment and equipment.
Real gourmets will certainly be delighted with the traditional Maldivian cuisine with its spicy Indian sauces, an abundance of fruits and all sorts of variations in the preparation of mouth-watering seafood and fish. There are no local alcoholic drinks in the Maldives, as they are prohibited by Islam, but in hotels tourists can enjoy imported goods to their heart's content.
can hardly be called inexpensive, but all this luxury is worth the money. Shopping lovers should look into the souvenir shops and shops in Male, where they will be greeted by the brightest selection of products made from coral, shells, palm wood and other traditional materials. In addition, the Maldives, fabulous cultural and historical sights dizzying!

Have a good travel!