The Republic of the Maldives is a chain of around 1200 small coral Islands stretching 750km across the Indian Ocean and circled into 26 natural atolls boast rich cultural traditions, a history of kings and queens, pageants, feasts and festivals, their own language and script. According to the season and method of classification, the exact number of islands are changed.

The Maldives Islands, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean covers an area of 90,000 sq. km. The length of the country extends to 820 km and width is 130 km. It spreads across the equator from north to south.

Geographically it is divided into 19 atolls but for administrative purpose officially it is grouped into 20 atolls. Most of the islands are uninhabited and people are living only in 199 islands. The height of the islands rarely reach above 2 meters. These islands are surrounded by shallow crystal clear lagoons enclosed by coral reefs.

Total estimated population is 246 thousands. The islands chain forms part of Laccadive Chagos submarine ridge, which extends into the Central part of Indian Ocean from the south west coast of India.

The islands extend more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west. The northernmost atoll is about 370 miles (600 km) south-southwest of the Indian mainland, and the central area, including the capital island of Male, is about 400 miles (645 km) southwest of Sri Lanka.

View Some of the Islands of  Maldives