The Maldives: landmarks, animals & facts for kids

The Maldives is an island country in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka. It is made up of about 1,190 small coral islands grouped into 26 atolls, rings of reef around a lagoon, and only around 200 of the islands are inhabited. Its capital is Malé. The Maldives is the smallest country in Asia and the lowest-lying country in the world, famous for white beaches, turquoise lagoons and colourful coral reefs.

On My Earth Toy you can see the Maldives' famous overwater villas, wooden guest houses built on stilts above a shallow lagoon, connected to the island by long walkways.

Geography and nature

The islands are the tops of coral reefs that grew on an underwater mountain range, so the land is very flat, with an average height of only about 1.5 metres above sea level. This makes the country especially sensitive to rising seas. Under the water, the reefs are full of life: manta rays, whale sharks, turtles, reef sharks and thousands of fish. The climate is warm all year, with a drier northeast monsoon and a rainier southwest monsoon.

People, languages and culture

The national language is Dhivehi, written in a script called Thaana that runs from right to left. English is widely used in schools and business. Islam is the state religion, and nearly all Maldivians are Muslim. Fishing, especially for tuna with poles and lines, is a traditional way of life, and tourism is now the biggest industry. A favourite breakfast is mas huni, tuna mixed with coconut, onion and chilli, eaten with flatbread. Boduberu drumming and dancing are popular at celebrations.

History in a nutshell

People have lived on the islands for well over 2,000 years. Early Maldivians were Buddhist, and in 1153 the islands converted to Islam, beginning centuries of rule by sultans. Sailors and traders knew the Maldives for its cowrie shells, which were used as money across the Indian Ocean. The Portuguese held Malé briefly in the 16th century, and from 1887 the islands were a British protectorate. The Maldives became independent on 26 July 1965 and a republic in 1968.