- Official Name: Republic of Maldives
- Location: Indian Ocean, Southwest of Sri Lanka
- Capital: Male
- Area: 90,000 km (of which only 10% is land)
- Official Language: Dhivehi
- Second Language: English and other languages are widely used in tourism areas
- Religion: Islam (100% Sunni Muslim)
- Time difference: +5hrs GMT
- Currency: Rufiyaa (Notes) and Laari (Coins) – Most major island resorts, local and souvenir shops will accept American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa. Arrangements vary from island to island. There are ATMs widely available in Malé
- Climate: Tropical
- Average Temperatures: 30.7 º Celsius (Max) & 25.7 º Celsius (Min)
- Average Rainfall: 1868.9 mm
- Major tourist attraction places: national museum, grand Friday mosque, Sultan park, mulee aage palace, Islamic centre, fish market and beaches & coral reefs in Maldives
- Best time to visit: December to April
- Number of islands: Approximately 1190 Island, of which only 200 are inhabited. All the islands are low-lying, none more than 2 metres above sea level.
- Major Industries: Tourism, Fishing and Shipping
- Major exports: dried and salted fish, coconuts, shells, tortoise shells, coir rope, and ambergris
- Major imports: rice, flour, sugar and other consumer products
2nd July 2010 | by James Bell
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