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Facts and
figures
A quick guide
to Maldives
Things
You Might Have Not Known Before About Maldives
Area
Land Area :
1,190 islands with a land area of 115 square miles
(298 sq. km)
Sea
Area :Approx.
41,500 square miles (107,500 sq. km)
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Formation and
Geographical Location
Coral
islands, grouped into atolls, stretch along the 73rd
meridian between latitudes 0 42' south and 8 10'
north, for a distance of 468.3 miles (753.6 km), with
a
width
of 73.4 (118.1 km) from east to west.
The
Shortest distance from the mainland of India is 217
miles (350 km) and from Sri Lanka 460 miles (740 km).
Indian Ocean, near India and Sri Lanka.
Latitude : 07°
06'30" N to 00° 41'48" S.
Longitude : 72°
32'30" E to 73° 45'54" E.
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Political
Status
Since
1965, an Independent republic with a democratically
elected parliament. President is the head of the
government, elected every 5 years.
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Population
214,139
(1990)
260,000 (1997
official estimate).
Population in the capital Male' was 58,000 in 1990.
Annual population increase is 3.8%
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Capital :
Malé
Male' the capital
island has an area of 1.77 sq.km
Population in the capital Male' was 58,000 in 1990.
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Maldives
Standard Time
+5 hrs GMT ( 5
hours ahead of GMT )
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Religion
100% Sunni Muslim.
Maldives is perhaps the only country with a 100%
Muslim population. Islam was introduced around
A.D.800, and the moderate form
practised in Maldives has remained virtually
unchanged.
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Languages
Dhivehi and
English.
Dhivehi, an indigenous language spoken only in the
Maldives. The script is called "Thaana". English is
the main taught language at schools. Most people in
Male and tourist resorts speak English
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Literacy
Rate
98.2% (Age group
10-45 yrs)
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Health
Maldives is a tropical country but the people are
extremely clean. You will be safe there but please get
advice from your doctor or health visitor regarding
vaccinations.
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Weather
Temperature :30.4° C
(Mean Max), 25.4° C (Mean Min).
Monsoons :
South-West : May-October, North-East :
November-April.
Average Annual Rainfall: 1948.2 mm.
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Currency
Maldivian
Rufiyaa Mrf and unit Laari (100 Laari's in 1 Rufiyaa)
Approx.. Exchange rates are US $ 1 = 12 Mrf and
Sterling £ 1 = 18 Mrf.
German Mark = 6.5 Mrf
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Working
Hours
Banks : 8 am - 1.30
PM (Sun to Thus)
Government
Offices : 7.30 am -2.30 PM (Sun to Thus), Fri and Sat
holidays.
Private Offices:
Open between 8 am and 10 am and close between 6 PM and
8 PM, with a lunch break. Closed on Fridays only.
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Credit Cards
Accepted
American Express,
Diners Club, EuroCard, JCB, MasterCard, Visa.
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Economy
Major
Industries: Tourism, fish canning, manufacture of
garments, boat building, and handicrafts.
GDP
growth
6.1%.
Inflation : 20.1% (1994 figures)
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National Flag
and Emblem
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National Tree
Coconut Palm (Cocos
nucifera).
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National Flower
Pink Rose (Rosa
pdyantha).
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Food
and Drink
Fish
and coconuts are about the only products which do
not have to be imported and they find their way into
most menu. The spiny backed lobster is a delicacy.
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Clothing -
Dress Code
Casual clothing is normal in Maldives. However, it is
advisable to have your thighs and shoulders covered.
Bikini's are not permitted in inhabited local islands
since it
is a
Muslim country.
Light weight
cottons and linens clothes are common.
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Shopping
The capital Malé,
being the centre of commercial activity is the ideal
place to shop. Shops open between 7.30 and 9.30 am,
closing at 11 PM. On Fridays they open at 1.30 PM,
closing as usual.
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Alcohol
and Drugs
Maldivians, being a Muslims, are prohibited by law
from consuming alcohol, hence there is a strict
restriction on the alcohol available in inhabited
islands. Foreigners who
reside in Maldives can have a private supply arranged
by an authorised licensing procedure. All tourist
resorts and hotels, as well cruise ships and yachts
have alcohol
for consumption guests.
Maldives is amongst one of the toughest countries in
dealing with drugs. Lengthy jail sentences are normal
if found in possession or whilst using them, even with
a joint.
Please do not try to import any form of drug into
Maldives. Also, please do not use drugs even if
offered whilst there, it is not worth the risk!
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Visa
Requirements
No prior visa
arrangements are required. A tourist visa of 30 days
will be given to visitors with valid travel documents,
on arrival. Visitors should be in possession of at
least US$25 per day of stay in the Maldives. For those
coming from yellow fever infected regions, an
international certificate of inoculation is required.
A passenger service fee of US$10 is levied per person,
on departure.
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Air Transport
Apart from international
flights operated by South Africa, Malaysia, India, Pakistan,
Sri Lanka,
Singapore, the U.A.E.,
and a number of European countries to and from Malé
International Airport (Tel : 322073),
there are also regular
domestic flights operated by Air Maldives to Hanimaadhoo,
Kadhdhoo, Kaadhedhdhoo, and
Gan. Inter-island
services are operated by Hummingbird Helicopters and the
Maldivian Air Taxi, the latter having the largest air
fleet. Sight-seeing trips, photo shooting trips, and Medevac
operations are also carried out by them.
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Road Transport
Travel on most of the
islands takes no more than half-an-hour on foot. Bicycles
and motorbikes are
popular modes of
transport. Taxis are un-metered, charging Mrf 15, if hailed
on the road or Mrf 10, if called on phone from
the taxi services,
(325656, 323132, etc.).
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Sea Transport
Local boats, or dhoani's
(average speed 7 knots), are the most common means of water
transport.
Modern speedboats are also
available for hire.
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Things
You Might Have Not Known Before
We eat a
lot of fish, mainly skip jack tuna!
Football
is our national game !
There
is only one National Stadium - Galolhu Dhan'du in the
capital Male' .
In the middle ages, we were an
important source of the cowry shells, for obvious reasons;
these were the currency used by traders east of Africa, so
we were quite a wealthy nation
then.
We were a
British Protectorate during the second world war and gained
full independence in 1968.
The English
word "atoll" meaning a group of islands is originally a
Maldivian word, in Dhivehi, we pronounce it " Atholhu".
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