The Maldives The Maldives officially Republic of Maldives
The Maldives
The Maldives, officially Republic of Maldives, also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island Chagos Archipelago. This chain of islands is an archipelago located among the Lakshadweep-Maldives-Chagos Group, which are the tops of a vast undersea mountain range in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The atolls of the Maldives encompass a territory spread over roughly 90, 000 square kilometres, making it one of the most dispersed countries in the world in geographic terms. It features 1, 192 islands, of which two hundred are inhabited. The Republic of Maldives's capital and largest city is Malé, with a population of 103, 693 (2006). It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll, in the Kaafu Atoll. It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties were enthroned. The Maldives are the smallest Asian country in both population and land area. With an average ground level of 1. 5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the lowest country on the planet. It is also the country with the lowest highest point in the world, at 2. 3 metres (7 ft 7 in); the Maldives sinking is a great concern for the Maldivian people.
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