About Maldives

People & Language	Geography
Weather	History

Geography

Formed above peaks emerging from the depths of the ocean, upon layers of both living and dead coral, and remnants of other marine life, most of the islands are covered with dense tropical vegetation. Coconut palms towering above dense shrubs and hardy plants protecting the shores
from erosion are natural features on most islands. The smaller islands and sandbanks under formation are also wonders in themselves. They embody living entities in various stages of formation, as interdependent elements in an ecosystem, a food chain where birds, fish, and other marine life co-exist.
Humans form the apex, as caretakers. Out of a total of 1190 islands, 200 are inhabited, 88 are set aside for exclusive tourist resort development. Measuring 820 kilometers north to south and 120 kilometers east to west at its greatest width, the closest neighbours are India and Sri Lanka.