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| Home :: Maldives Information :: Geography and Climate |
Maldives Geography & Climate |
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| Geography and Climate |
 The Maldives is an archipelago of about 1190 islands grouped into natural coral atolls.
One would expect the Indian Ocean, like any of the other oceans of the world to have its waves and other phenomena related to large bodies of water. The Indian Ocean does fulfil this expectation till one begins to approach any of the coral atolls right in the middle of it.
An atoll is best visualized as a series of concentric layers. The outermost layer of the atoll is a strong reef. Composed of coral debris and living coral, this reef is a formidable barrier against rough seas. Once you gain access into the calm waters within, one is within the lagoon of the atoll proper.
The islands of the atoll follow the outer reef. Sometimes an occasional island juts up from inside the lagoon.
 Each island has its own fringing reef. This adds to the protection. The water within this reef is often quite shallow. That aquamarine halo around the island in your picture postcard is this.
Even though the islands of the Maldives are well sheltered from oceanic waves, the ocean plays a major role in the climate of the country. It acts as a heat buffer, storing and giving up heat at a much slower rate than solid ground. Temperatures usually fluctuate between 23 °C and maximum 32°C. There is always a cooling breeze blowing in from the sea.
The Maldives straddles the equator and lies outside the Indian Ocean cyclone belt.
Some people find the Maldivian climate monotonous. Length of day never varies. Normally in June and July the southwest monsoon is said to bring rain . |
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| Land Formation |
- Subsided volcano type coral atoll.
- Strong fringe reef round each natural atoll.
- Channels or breaks in fringe reef provide access to inner lagoon.
- Islands normally set at a slight distance parallel to fringe reef.
- Some isolated islands In central lagoon.
- Each island has a house reef. Water within house reef very shallow.
- Islands consist of coral debris ground into fine white sand. Highest point above sea level 1.5m.
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| Climate |
- Equatorial day = night cycle.
- No seasons.
- Two regional monsoons (SW & NW); SW brings rain.
- Temperature: max. 32°C, min. 23°C, norm. 30°C,
- Sea provides "buffer". Cooling sea breezes.
- Humidity normally high.
- Unpredictable tropical showers.
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| The People and the Language |
 Where did the people and the language of the Maldives come from?
It is not recorded when and by whom the Maldives was first settled. However, archeo-logical evidence and a look at the only language spoken in the country (called Dhivehi) tell an interesting story!
The languages of the Maldives' immediate neighbors are predominantly Dravidian (with the sole exception ofSinhala, which is spoken by the Singhalese community in Sri Lanka), the Dhivehi language is Sanskrit based. Linguistic evidence clearly indicates this.
 Before conversion to Islam in 1 1 53 AD, the predominant religion in the Maldives was Buddhism (again something shared with the Sinhala-speakers of Sri Lanka, Sinhala being a Sanskrit-derived language as well). This, along with folklore and legend, points strongly to an Aryan migration from the ancient civilizations of Mohenjodaro and Harappa, at a time circa 500 BC.
Things never remained that simple. The Maldives is placed right at the traders' cross-roads of the Indian Ocean. Daring seafarers from all around the known world often found respite on these islands. Some never left. All made their own contributions to the society and the gene pool of the people.
As Maldivians themselves traveled far and wide, they brought home exotic products and left behind records of their visits. The documented visits made to the court of Roman Emperor Julian in 362 AD and visits to the court of the Tang Dynasty Emperor of China in 658 AD ore good examples.
 Maldivians later traveled to Bengal, Malaysia and the rest of Asia. This brought in strong influxes of these languages. Conversion to Islam brought in Arabic and Persian elements. The Portuguese who overcame the Maldives in the 16th Century added theirs. Maldivians who thought education in Indian universities in the 18th Century brought Urdu and Hindi. In the 19th Century, the British Empire contributed English!
Maldivians have always welcomed and accommodated visitors who came in peace. Isolationism was never practiced. Cultural and other beneficial influences were assimilated. Only threats to independence were repelled.
The Maldives continues to remain a unified country with a unique culture and a unique language with its own script, literature and history
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