*if you are having your speakers on, you'll be hearing the national anthem of Maldives
Maldives (formerly Maldive Islands), island republic in southern Asia, located in the northern Indian Ocean, southwest of the southern tip of India. Maldives is made up of a chain of nearly 2000 small coral islands that are grouped into clusters of atolls. It has a total area of 298 sq km (115 sq mi). The capital and largest city of Maldives is Male (population, 1990, 55,130).

Land and Resources
The islands are low-lying and have only small tracts of arable land. Vegetation is dominated by coconut palms and breadfruit trees. The climate is tropical and humid. The average annual temperature is 26.7° C (80° F), with little seasonal variation. The average annual precipitation is 1524 mm (60 in), most of which falls between May and November. The principal natural resource is the marine life of the surrounding seas.

Population
The population of Maldives (1995 estimate) is 248,000, yielding an average population density of about 832 persons per sq km (about 2156 per sq mi). The most populous atolls are Male, the capital and principal commercial center; Suvadiva; and Tiladummati. The people are ethnically heterogeneous, incorporating Indian, Sinhalese, Arabian, and African elements. Islam is the state religion, and nearly all the people are Sunni Muslims. The language is Divehi, an Indo-European tongue related to Sinhalese.

Economy and Government
The Maldivian economy is dominated by fishing, which accounts for about 60 percent of all export trade. The catch is primarily tuna; corals and shells are also taken. Coconuts are the principal agricultural product; most food must be imported. Industrial activity is largely limited to fish processing and garment manufacturing. The tourist industry is growing; in the early 1990s more than 235,000 tourists visited Maldives, bringing in $18.8 million annually. The national currency is the rufiyaa which is made up of 100 laari (11.10 rufiyaa equal U.S.$1; 1994).
Maldives is a republic governed under a constitution promulgated in 1968. Executive power is vested in a president, nominated by the Majlis, or Citizens' Council, and then elected every five years by universal adult suffrage. The Majlis, a unicameral legislative body, consists of 40 directly elected members from the 20 administrative atolls and 8 representatives appointed by the president. The president appoints a cabinet that is responsible to the Majlis.

History
The islands were settled by Buddhist peoples from southern Asia. Islam was introduced in the 12th century. The Portuguese traded at Male in the latter half of the 15th century. Although the islands were ruled by a local sultan, European influence was established over the area, first by the Dutch in the 17th century and later by the British. In 1887 the Maldives Islands formally became a British protectorate. In 1965 the Maldives achieved independence as a sultanate, and in 1968 the people voted to establish a republic. In 1988, Indian troops were called in to foil a coup attempt by Tamil mercenaries.
 
 

Some resort islands in the Maldives
 
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Maldives," (c) 1998 Mohamed Haneef. All rights reserved.