Maldives: Geography#
Location | Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India |
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Geographic Coordinates | 3 15 N, 73 00 E 3.25,73.0 |
Area | total: 298 sq km land: 298 sq km water: 0 sq km [Verified in 8 databases] |
Land boundaries | 0 km |
Coastline | 644 km |
Elevation Extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Viligili in the Addu Atholhu 2.4 m |
Highest Mountains | |
Terrain | flat, with white sandy beaches |
Natural Hazards | tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise |
Natural Resource | fish |
Land Use | arable land: 10% permanent crops: 10% other: 80% (2011) |
Climate | tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August) |
Irrigated Land | 0 sq km NA (2003) |
Renewable Water Resources | 0.03 cu km (2011) |
Environment_CurrentIssues | depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching |
Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Large Cities | Due to difference in city rankings taken from two data sources we are listing here both lists : According to Wolfram: Male; Hithadhoo; Fuvammulah; Kulhudhuffushi; Thinadhoo According to Geonames: Male; Fuvammulah; Hithadhoo; Kulhudhuffushi; Thinadhoo Attempted Explanation: Please help us to try to explain the discrepancies by sending us helpful information to office nospam@TUGraz.at @global-geography.org Important Cities |
Geography-note | smallest Asian country; archipelago of 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean |