From the mid-16th century, the region came under the increasing influence of European colonial powers, with the Maldives becoming a British protectorate in 1887. In the 12th century Islam reached the Maldivian Archipelago, which was consolidated as a sultanate, developing strong commercial and cultural ties with Asia and Africa. The Maldives has been inhabited for over 2,500 years. (Some sources state the highest point, Mount Villingili, as 5.1 metres or 17 feet.) With an average ground-level elevation of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, and a highest natural point of only 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in), it is the world's lowest-lying country. The Maldivian Archipelago is located on the Chagos–Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean this also forms a terrestrial ecoregion, together with the Chagos Archipelago and Lakshadweep. Malé is the capital and the most populated city, traditionally called the "King's Island" where the ancient royal dynasties ruled for its central location. The Maldives' chain of 26 atolls stretches across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south.Ĭomprising a territory spanning roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi) including the sea, land area of all the islands comprises 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi), the Maldives is the the smallest country in Asia as well as one of the world's most geographically dispersed sovereign states and as well as one of the smallest Muslim-majority countries by land area and, with a population of 521,021, the 2nd least populous country in Asia.
It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometres (470 miles 400 nautical miles) from the Asian continent's mainland. The Maldives ( / ˈ m ɔː l d iː v z/ Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, romanized: Dhivehi Raajje, Dhivehi pronunciation: ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, Dhivehi pronunciation: ), is an archipelagic state and country in South Asia, situated in the Indian Ocean. United States dollar ( USD, used in Maldivian resort islands).
0 kommentar(er)
