Maldives Travel Guide

Special Offers

This is Maldives Maldives Introduction
This is Maldives Location and Geography
This is Maldives History and Culture
This is Maldives Economy and Politics
This is Maldives Myth and Folklore

Maldives Visitor Guide

This is Maldives Travel Tips
This is Maldives Resorts and Hotels
This is Maldives Cruising in Maldives
This is Maldives Diving in Maldives
This is Maldives Surfing in Maldives
This is Maldives Attractions & Activities
This is Maldives Water Sports

Maldives Investor Guide

This is Maldives General Information
This is Maldives Regulations & Laws
This is Maldives Tourism Industry
This is Maldives Fishing Industry
This is Maldives Garment Industry
This is Maldives Transport & Aviation

Maldives Websites

This is Maldives Travel Agents
This is Maldives Dive Providers
This is Maldives Safari Boats
This is Maldives Maldives Government
This is Maldives Newspapers & portals
This is Maldives Companies
This is Maldives Maldives Timeshare
This is Maldives Maldives Directory

Images of Maldives

This is Maldives Capital Male'



Geography and Location

The sea covers 99% of the Maldives and inside its blue depths lies the mysteries and riddles related to the formation of the Maldives.

Charles Darwin's theory
Maldives is formed when submerged volcanoes rise from the sea, a coral reef grew on its edge. When the volcanoes submerged, the coral reefs encircling a water-filled basin remained. Consequently, islands were formed

The islands are formed around a ring shaped coral reef encircling a lagoon. This reef structure, typical of Maldives, is called an atoll. In fact, the English word 'atoll' itself is derived from the Maldivian or dhivehi word for it-atholhu. There are 26 natural atolls in the Maldives.

Maldives Islands just few feets above sea level
Maldives - Islands are just few feets above sea level

There are still ongoing debates about the formation of atolls. According to Charles Darwin's theory, when submerged volcanoes rise from the sea, a coral reef grew on its edge. When the volcanoes submerged, the coral reefs encircling a water-filled basin remained. Consequently, islands were formed on the reefs as the tides and currents brought dead coral onto sandbars. These were in turn colonised by plants.

A different view has been provided by Hans Hass. According to him, layers of coral reefs might have built up on top of the submerged mountains until they rose to the surface. The hardest and highest corals remained while the weaker corals in the center of the coral platforms broke down. The remaining corals at the outer edges formed rings that were to form the outer rims of atolls. Islands were formed as debris and sand accumulated on to the remaining reefs.

The reef is cut by deep channels, which the locals have mastered to navigate. Protective reefs safeguard the islands from the elements. However, the islands are susceptible to erosion. The islands are low-lying; emerging almost two meters above the sea level. It is frequent that one part of the island to erode while onto another part the currents and tides deposit sand expanding the island. Over the course of time, some islands may erode completely, while others may be formed gradually on a sandbank. There are still many islands and sandbanks at various stages of formation. Hence, the Maldives is a dynamic country in the making.

Six inches deep humus forms the initial layers of the soil. Sandstone of about 2 feet is found below and after it sand is accompanied with fresh water. The salinity of the soil along the beach restricts the growth to few plants. Normally, shrubs and small hedges occupy the area. More inwards, banyan, mangroves, screwpine and other lush vegetation are found. For the coconut palms there seems to be no restrictions. It is found almost everywhere and have contributed significantly to the local lifestyle, even earning the status of the national tree.

While vegetation in the islands is limited, it is supplemented by the riches of the sea; varieties of corals, abundant colourful fish and other organisms that makes the Maldives 'the home of the children of the sea'.

 

Special Offers
 
 

 

Computer Translation
English German Spanish French Italian Portuguese Russian Greek Chinese
© 2011 This is Maldives.com - Site Map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact us | Links