Maldives is classified among some of the best holiday destinations in the world because the locale is characterized by clear waters, dive sites, beautiful marine life, and pristine beaches. This island nation can also be defined as a tropical paradise because of its culture, unique history, and warm people.
If it is your first time visiting these islands, you should be wary of the sun. The islands sit close enough to the equator to receives sunlight at nearly a 90-degree angle. While visiting, ensure you apply sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the equatorial sunlight. With an average altitude of 1.8 meters, Maldives is the flattest country in the world, with the highest point being Villingili Island.
The beautiful island is also a renowned diving destination with giant whale sharks found around the reefs. It is one of the earth’s few places where one can encounter whale sharks all year round. Thanks to the archipelago, tourists can snorkel and visit the shark sanctuaries under the supervision of an expert. Moreover, these islands are home to five of the seven species of marine turtles. They include the loggerhead, the Olive Ridley turtle, the green turtle, the leatherback, and the hawksbill.
In 2009, the Maldives cabinet conducted an underwater meeting, making it the first country to hold a governmental scuba meeting. The meeting was held under the sea to raise awareness of the dangers faced from the world’s oceans and the interference caused by humans to freshwater sources. The Maldivian flag is characterized by a large red rectangle with a smaller green rectangle that has a crescent moon embedded within it. The red symbolizes the sacrifice made by the people whose lives were lost in the spirit of defending the country. On the other hand, the green stands for prosperity and peace, while the crescent moon represents Islam.
The international community considers Maldives one of the world’s safest tourist destinations. This is because the islands are small and manageable, and all of them are isolated. Due to rising sea levels, increased erosion, and its modest elevation, Maldives is rapidly sinking into the ocean and risks being completely submerged by 2030.
In ancient days, the people of Maldives used cowry shells as a form of currency, which modern currency bills and coins have since replaced. One of the symbols incorporated to represent the nation is the coconut tree. This is because it is a widely grown tree in these islands and acts as a good source of shade.
Furthermore, it is also a good wood medium used to build traditional boats and dhonis. The Maldive dhonis are traditional Maldivian boats used for sea travelling as well as fishing. The ancient Arabic sailing dhow, a common sailing ship in the Indian Ocean during the 11th century, inspires the shape of these boats. The nation is composed of a total of 1190 islands and 26 atolls. Two hundred Maldivian islands are inhabited, while 110 are set aside purely for tourism services.