Maldives, normally known as Republic of Maldives, is an independent island nation in the central Indian Ocean. The Maldives consists of a chain of about 1,200 small islands and sandbanks or atolls (However, only 200 of them are inhabited).
The Maldives Islands are a sequence of coral atolls built up from the peaks of an underwater prehistoric volcanic mountain range. All the islands are lowland with no atoll rising to more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) above sea level.
The islands are surrounded by barrier reefs which protect the islands from the destructive effects of monsoons. The rainy season (hulhangu), from May to August, is brought by the southwest monsoon; from December to March the northeast monsoon brings dry and mild winds (Iruvai). The average yearly temperature varies from 76 to 86 °F (24 to 30 °C). Rainfall averages about 84 inches (2,130 mm) per year.
The atolls have sandy beaches, lagoons, and a flourishing growth of coconut palms, together with breadfruit trees and tropical bushes. Fish proliferate in the reefs, lagoons, and seas attached through islands.
The population of Maldives belongs almost entirely to the Maldivian folkloric group, which is the result of several peoples settling in the islands continually through the country’s history. The first settlers, it is commonly believed, were Tamil and Sinhalese peoples from southern India and Sri Lanka. Traders from countries like Malaya, Madagascar, Indonesia, and China visited the islands through the eras. The official language is an Indo-European language called Dhivehi. Arabic, Hindi, and English are also spoken (English is spoken as a second language). Islamic religion is followed across the country.
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