Maldives is made up of about 1,200 islands with an altitude of not more than 2.4m above sea level.
As a country in Asia, Maldives is about 800km southwest of Sri Lanka. With white sand beaches and deep blue waters, it is one of the world’s top popular vacation destinations. Of the millions of visitors who come here every year, not many people know about the interesting things this country has to offer.
Of the 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean that make up the Maldives, about 200 are inhabited. In which, the capital Malé (Kafuu island) is the place with the most population, estimated at more than 100,000 people. The remaining islands are used for various activities, mainly tourism.
Addu Atoll is the highest place in the Maldives. (Photo: Travel Padi).
Maldives has flat terrain and no island is higher than 2.4m above sea level. This puts the Maldives on the list of countries affected by sea level rise. According to Express UK , the “earth paradise” could disappear in the next few decades, because of global warming.
Alcohol, beer or alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Maldives. The only place where these drinks are legal is in hotels and resorts. Here, people mainly use imported tea and Raa (a fermented beverage, extracted from the stem of the palm tree).
Unlike Western countries, the working day in Maldives starts from Sunday to the end of every Thursday. Weekends in this Muslim country will fall on Friday and Saturday.
Between June and October, on Vaadloo Island, in the administrative district of Raa Island, Maldives will appear a luminescent beach. This phenomenon is the result of a chemical reaction between glowing plankton and oxygen. This creature usually lives in the Indian Ocean, especially around the islands between summer and winter. They glow when there are impacts such as crashing waves, moving ships. So visitors can use their hands and feet to create beautiful light trails on Maldives beaches.
With 99% of the area being sea, Maldives possesses a rich flora and fauna, especially coral. There are more than 2,000 fish species and more than 5,000 coral reefs here, with several species such as stingrays, sea anemones, jellyfish, and sharks.
Snorkeling is a popular tourist activity in the Maldives. (Photo: Dive Report).
In particular, the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve was recognized by UNESCO in 2011. This is the place to keep the largest coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and many endangered species such as green turtles, hawksbill turtles, etc. Ferocious nurse shark. Maldives is one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world. Just diving a few meters from the shore, visitors can swim with colorful creatures and explore coral through the glass.