THE MALDIVES
By Ruth Franklin
YOU CAN NEVER FAULT THE FRIENDLINESS AND HOSPITALITY OF MALDIVIANS . NOTHING IS TOO MUCH TROUBLE FOR THEM .
Let ’ s take a moment to position ourselves geographically . The Maldives archipelago is located 300 miles southwest of the southernmost tip of India and 450 miles west of Sri Lanka . It is a string of over 1,200 low-lying coral islands nestled 850km north to south , covering 90,000sq km in the vast Indian Ocean . Just over 160 of these islands are resort islands , 300 are inhabited islands , and the remainder are uninhabited .
So what makes this archipelago so unique that it demands the attention of those looking for an indulgent break , a romantic honeymoon , exceptional diving , fantastic surfing , or just seclusion and relaxation ? The magic ingredient is the coral reefs that make up each atoll .
These coral ecosystems are globally significant . They form the seventh largest reef system in the world , and the coral reefs of Maldives represent as much as 3.14 % of the world ’ s reef area . In the 26 natural atolls of the Maldives , there are over 2,000 distinct coral reefs . The marine biological diversity is outstandingly rich , making them one of the world ’ s most diverse marine ecosystems .
12 Travel + Lifestyle To Table of Contents