The Republic of Maldives is an island country in the Indian Ocean and is located southwest of India. The Maldives are spread over 26 atolls and consist of 19 island groups. In total, this island city contains 1,196 islands, of which 220 are inhabited and 87 are used for tourism. The north-south extension is 823 km. The Maldivian ridge, on which the islands are located, originated from a tilted edge of the Indian land mass. The islands are not of volcanic origin and are only about 1 meter above sea level. The highest point is 2.4 meters on the island of Villingili in the Addu Atoll.
According to findjobdescriptions, the islands are surrounded by sandy beaches and lagoons with numerous coral reefs. The Maldives are mainly covered with palm trees and breadfruit trees. The inhabited Maldivian islands are divided into 2 groups. Maldivians are only permitted as personnel on the 87 islands used for tourism. The main tourist islands include Kuramathi, Bandos, Vabbinfaru, Meerufenfushi, Fihalhohi or Kuredu. The islands for locals are usually only inhabited by Maldives. Tourists have limited access. This creates a certain division that you are already used to from other countries.
About a third of the population lives in the capital Malè. 90 percent of the Maldives area consists of water. Through land reclamation measures, the government wants to create artificial islands for more living space, which is still partially planned. The Malè area is basically the capital of the Maldives and consists of the main island of the same name, Malè. With around 104,000 inhabitants, it is the largest city in the archipelago and is therefore the busiest. The islands of Villingili, Hulhumalè and Hulhulè belong to Malè. The city has been the economic and cultural center of the Maldives for over 800 years. It is the seat of the government, the supply center and the transportation hub of the Maldives.
Worth seeing is the Hukuru Miskiiy mosque, built in the 17th century, which with its golden dome shapes the cityscape and is very well known. The National Museum of the Island State hosts numerous exhibits from the history of the island state.
Kuramathi Island is the largest touristic island in the Maldives. This island is located in the Rasdhoo Atoll west of Malè. You can easily walk around this hotel island in 1.5 hours on foot. In addition to the tourist centers, there is a shopping street with some small shops. The island’s waters are particularly popular with divers and snorkelers. The reef is just a few meters from the shore. The Hammerhead Shark Point can be reached by boat in 15 minutes, where divers can observe hammerhead sharks.
Bandos on the other hand, it is just 600 meters long and 400 meters wide. This island is located in the North Male Atoll near the capital. This small island is very popular with German tourists and offers a beautiful white beach with some water sports. The coral reef is 40 m from the shore and offers ideal conditions for divers and snorkelers. The outer reef can be reached with a 25 minute boat trip.
abbinfaru Island is so small that it can be circumnavigated in 15 minutes. Vabbinfaru is located in the north Malè Atoll and can be reached by speedboat from the capital Malè in 30 minutes. This island is particularly suitable for those looking for relaxation and has a comfortable holiday complex that is very quiet and picturesque. It is only a few steps from the bungalows to the beach. However, many visitors also spend their time diving and snorkeling in the nearby coral reefs of the atoll.
Meerufenfushi is also not far from Malè in the North Malè Atoll. This island is 1.2 km long and 450 m wide. It is one of the oldest hotel islands in the Maldives. The hotel complex was built in 1978 and extensively renovated in 1996. The 2 resorts consist of different types of bungalows, restaurants, bars and shops. Tourists can take a few excursions from the island. Dives in the reefs and water sports such as surfing or canoeing are popular.
Fihalhohi is a small island on the southwestern edge of the South Malè Atoll about 39 km from Malè. This island is 450 meters long and 240 meters wide. This hotel island is overgrown with shady palm trees that lean over the white beach. The house reef is not far from the shore and offers ideal conditions for divers and snorkelers. The diving center is well equipped. The island also offers traditional restaurants, a nightclub and a surf café.
The island of Kuredu is located on the northern outer reef of the Lhaviyani Atoll. It can be reached from Malè by seaplane in 40 minutes. The hotel island is 1.5 km long and 350 m wide. It is surrounded by a beautiful white sandy beach, in the vicinity of which there are over 50 breathtaking diving sites that you will not soon forget. The island has several restaurants, some small shops, bars and swimming pools. A freshwater pool with a children’s pool is located outside the island.
