Maldives Geography

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Maldives Geography

Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India.
The Maldive islands stretch from the southern tip of India down to the equator. There are 1,196 coral islands spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers and 26 atolls of the Indian Ocean, making this one of the most disparate countries in the world.
Position: degree of latitude: 07° 06'30" N to 00° 41'48" S and degree of longitude: 72° 32'30" E to 73° 45'54" E westside of India and Sri Lanka. Range: in length approx. 750 km (from north to south) / in width approx. 120 km (from west to east) Land territory: 1,196 mostly deserted island with a total area of approx. 298 km². The islands are very flat and are in average 1.8 m above sea level. Distances: shortest distance to India: approx. 340 km and to Sri Lanka approx. 700 km. Geographic coordinates: 3 15 N, 73 00 E

Area:
total: 300 km²
land: 300 km²
water: 0 sq km

Coastline: 644 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain: flat, with white sandy beaches
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m (the Maldives are the flattest country in the world, i.e. they have the lowest highest-point of any country the world).
Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 84% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA

Natural hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise
Environment - current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note: 1,196 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean.
The biggest island of the Maldives is Fuvahmulah, which is a single island and single atoll located in the southern part of the Maldives known the Gnaviyani atoll. In Addu atoll most of the islands are connected by roads over the reef and the total length of the road is 12 km.

Atolls

The Maldives has 26 Natural atolls which have been divided into 20 administrative atolls. The northern most atoll is Thiladhunmathi and the southern most is Addu. The smallest atoll is Fua Mulaku with only one island (the largest island in the Maldives). The largest atoll in both the Maldives and the whole world is Huvadhu which is just south of the one and a half degree channel.
Each atoll is administered by an Atoll Chief (Atholhu Veriyaa). The president (Maumoon Abdul Gayoom) appoints atoll chiefs to each atoll, who administers it as may be decreed and directed by the president. The Ministry of Atoll Administration and its Northern and Southern Regional Offices, Atoll Offices and Island Offices are collectively responsible to the President for Atolls Administration. The administrative head of the island is the Island Chief (Katheeb), appointed by the Ministry of Atolls Administration. The Island Chief’s immediate superior is the Atoll Chief.
Administrative atolls(Administrative Name)
Rihiveli lagoon at MaléThiladhunmathi Uthuru (Haa-Alif)
Thiladhunmathi Dhekunu (Haa-Dhaalu)
Miladhunmadulu Uthuru (Shaviyani)
Miladhunmadulu Dhekunu (Noonu)
Maalhosmadulu Uthuru (Raa)
Maalhosmadulu Dhekunu (Baa)
Faadhippolhu (Lhaviyani)
Malé Atoll (Kaafu)
Ari Atoll Uthuru (Alif-Alif)
Ari Atoll Dheknu (Alif-Dhaal)
Felidhé Atoll (Vaavu)
Mulaku Atoll (Meemu)
Nilandhé Atoll Uthuru (Faafu)
Nilandhé Atoll Dhekunu (Dhaalu)
Kolhumadulu (Thaa)
Hadhdhunmathi (Laamu)
Huvadhu Atoll Uthuru (Gaafu-Alif)
Huvadhu Atoll Dhekunu (Gaafu-Dhaalu)
Fua Mulaku (Ñaviyani)
Addu (Seenu)

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