Atoll inhabité © graphixel - iStockphoto.com.jpg
iStock-476011725.jpg

The pearl of the Indian Ocean

The Maldives is a vast archipelago of 26 atolls drowned in the Indian Ocean. Most of the 1,190 islands are just confetti of white sand topped with coconut trees. The island state has barely 200 inhabited islands and nearly 130 island hotels. The atolls are divided into two rows that stretch 822 kilometres on a north-south axis. 130 kilometres separate the more distant islands on an east-west axis. The Maldives atolls form a natural barrier separating the Arabian Sea to the west and the Lacquedive Sea to the east. Lost in the blue immensity, the country is located 612 kilometres south-west of the Indian coast and 755 kilometres west-south-west of Sri Lanka. The Maldives archipelago is crossed by the equator in the south. Only Fuvammulah Island and Addu Atoll lie below the imaginary line. The total land area is 298 km², making the Maldives one of the smallest states in the world. The Maldivian coastline forms a ribbon of just 650 kilometres. However, if we take into account the maritime areas, the archipelago covers an area of 90,000 km², the equivalent of Jordan.

The amazing formation of the Maldives

It took no less than 30 million years for the Maldives to form. Each of the 26 egg-shaped atolls rests on a steep ridge of the ocean floor. Millions of years ago, coral colonized the rims of marine volcanoes, with only the cone protruding from the water. At the same time, the oceanic crust cooled, causing the sea floor to subside. The tops of the volcanoes gradually sank until they collapsed completely. All that remains are vast atolls where the coral fringe flushes the ocean surface. Deep cuts in the slopes of the volcano caused by powerful currents open up channels ensuring an exchange between the calm interior waters and the more tumultuous ocean waters. These passes, called kandu in Dihiveli, are crossed by currents that attract fish, sharks and manta rays. Plankton often abound as well as fish of all sizes, providing delicious meals for the large predators. Inside the atolls, and below the surface, the rocky peaks lined with coral and algae are called thila when they are between 5 and 15 meters deep or giri when they are less than 2 meters from the surface. The atoll is now outlined, with steep drop-offs on the outside, and shallow waters on the inside supported by a dented volcanic floor. The islands are still missing. Corals, which are living organisms, are born, grow and die. These soft polyps develop a hard, limestone skeleton as they grow. Currents will clump a layer of dead coral and sediment on the surface of the coral reef. Erosion polishes the dead surface coral into sand. Parrotfish are also involved in the formation of the Maldives' extra fine sand. They feed on micro-algae that grow alongside the corals. By munching on the algae, they absorb the nutrients and spit out the fine limestone particles from the corals. It takes 30,000 years for the cycle of degradation of coral into sand to be complete. The Maldivian islands are therefore sandbanks formed by currents and winds, resting above a coral reef, which explains their great fragility. On average, the Maldives is only 2 metres above sea level, making it the lowest country in the world. Its highest point is 2.30 metres and is located on the island of Wilingili in the Addu Atoll. Bad tongues attribute the highest peak of the archipelago to the island of Thilafushi. Located opposite the capital Malé, it collects all the country's waste and is nicknamed the "garbage island".

The Maldives atolls

The Maldives consists of 26 atolls and three isolated islands divided into 20 administrative regions. The capital, Male, is located in the centre of the country. The island of only 8.3 km² is the smallest capital in the world, but also one of the most densely populated cities. It had 227,486 inhabitants in 2020 compared to only 20,000 in 1987. It is home to one third of the country's population. The high population growth of the capital island is a testimony to the intense development of the country in a very short period of time. Malé was once the royal island, housing the palace and a fort. During the country's political transition in 1968, the island became the capital of the Republic of Maldives. Many of the historic buildings were razed to the ground, to be replaced by modern buildings without much charm. The international airport of Velana is located just opposite Malé, on the island of Hulhulé. The two islands are now linked by a bridge. The northern atolls form a long necklace from Thavandhippolhu atoll down to Laamu atoll. The northern part, bordered by the Lacquedives Sea, is made up of the atolls of Thavandhippolhu, Haa Alifu and Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Lhaviyani, Kaafu, Malé Sud, Vaavu, Meemu and Laamu. The western part, bordering the Arabian Sea includes the atolls of Maamakundhoo, Raa, Baa, Goidhoo, Rasdhoo, Ari, Nilandhoo North and Nilandhoo South and Thaa. The southern part of the Maldives, bisected by the equator line, comprises four atolls: Gaafu Alifu and Gaafu Dhaal, Gnaviyani and Addu. The atolls are referred to by their geographical name or administrative division, which sometimes complicates understanding. The three isolated islands are Kaashidhoo (north of Kaafu), Thodhoo (north of Rasdhoo) and Fuvammulah (between Gnaviyani and Addu atolls). The inhabited islands are spread throughout the atolls. In these islands, the villages develop according to a checkerboard plan around the port. A part of the island is still preserved for market gardening and fruit growing. Few islands are large enough to have an airport or a paved road. This is the case of the islands of Gan, Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo linked by a 17 kilometer road, a record in the Maldives!