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Revision as of 11:01, 6 March 2004 by Danny (talk | contribs) (filling in some more)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Republic of Maldives is a country consisting territorialy of a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India.
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| National motto: Xxxxx | |||||
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| Official language | Divehi | ||||
| Capital | Malé | ||||
| (optionally) Capital's coordinates | 3° 15' N, 73° 00' E | ||||
| (optionally) Largest City | Malé | ||||
| monarch/president | Xxxxx | ||||
| Area - Total - % water | Ranked 185th 300 km² xx% / Negligible | ||||
| Population
- Density | Ranked 167th
1,005/km² | ||||
| GDP (PPP)
- GDP/head | Ranked xth
$xx,xxx | ||||
| Currency | Rufiyaa (Rf) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC +/-X (DST, yes or not) | ||||
| Independence | 26 July 1965 | ||||
| National anthem | Gavmii mi ekuverikan matii tibegen kuriime salaam (In National Unity Do We Salute Our Nation) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .MV | ||||
| Calling Code | 960 | ||||
The early history of the Maldives is obscure. According to Maldivian legend, a Sinhalese prince named Koimale was stranded with his bride--daughter of the king of Sri Lanka--in a Maldivian lagoon and stayed on to rule as the first sultan.
Over the centuries, the islands have been visited and their development influenced by sailors from countries on the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean littorals. Mopla pirates from the Malabar Coast--present-day Kerala state in India--harassed the islands. In the 16th century, the Portuguese subjugated and ruled the islands for 15 years (1558-1573) before being driven away by the warrior-patriot and later Sultan, Muhammad Thakurufar Al-Azam.
Although governed as an independent Islamic sultanate for most of its history from 1153 to 1968, Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887 until July 25, 1965. In 1953, there was a brief, abortive attempt at a republican form of government, after which the sultanate was reimposed.
Following independence from Britain in 1965, the sultanate continued to operate for another 3 years. On November 11, 1968, it was abolished and replaced by a republic, and the country assumed its present name. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.
- Geography of the Maldives
- Demographics of the Maldives
- Politics of the Maldives
- Economy of the Maldives
- Communications in the Maldives
- Transportation in the Maldives
- Military of the Maldives
- Culture of the Maldives (Music of the Maldives)
- Foreign relations of the Maldives
- Tourism in Maldives
Much of the information in these articles comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2002 U.S. Department of State website. Somewhat Wikified.