Republic of Maldives, is an island nation consisting of a group of atolls belonging to the Maldive is located south of India's Lakshadweep islands between the Minicoy and the Chargos archiplagoes, and about seven hundred kilometres (435 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka in the Laccadive Sea of Indian Ocean. The twenty-six atolls of Maldives' encompass a territory featuring 1,192 islets, two hundred and fifty islands of which are inhabited.

The inhabitants were Buddhist, probably since Ashoka's period, in the 3rd century BC and possibaly Hindu before that. Islam was introduced in 1153. The Maldives came then under the influence of the Portuguese (1558) and the Dutch (1654) seaborne empires. In 1887 it became a British protectorate. In 1965, the Maldives obtained independence from Britain (originally under the name "Maldive Islands"), and in 1968 the Sultanate was replaced by a Republic.

The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in terms of population. It is also the smallest predominantly Muslim nation in the world. Adherence to Islam is required for citizenship by a revision of the constitution in 2008: Article 9, Section D states that "a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives."

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Etymology
The name "Maldives" may derive from Maale Dhivehi Raajje ("The Island Kingdom  Malé")." Some scholars believe that the name "Maldives" derives from the Sanskrit maladvipa, meaning "garland of islands", or from mahila dvipa, meaning "island of women", but these names are not found in ancient Sanskrit literature. Instead, classical Sanskrit texts mention the "Hundred Thousand Islands" (Lakshadweepa); a generic name which would include not only the Maldives, but also the Laccadives and the Chagos island groups. Another theory suggests that the name "Maldives" derives from the Tamil "mala tivu" meaning "a garland of islands." Some medieval Arab travellers such as Ibn Batuta called the islands "Mahal Dibiyat" from the Arabic word Mahal ("palace")."  This is the name currently inscribed in the scroll of the Maldive state emblem. The classical Yemeni name for Maldives is Dibajat. From ancient times the island nation was synonymous with its capital Maale and often times called 'Maledib' and the people were called 'Maale Dhives'. Dhives (Dhivehin) meaning islanders or anything to do with the islanders (Maldivians), often used as a prefix. Dutch during their colonial era rewritten as Maldivisch eiland in there documentation. Ultimately the British Empire anglicized to Maldives islands.
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History
Comparative studies of Maldivian oral, linguistic and cultural traditions and customs confirm that the first settlers were Dravidian people from the nearest coasts, most probably fishermen from the southwest coasts of the modern Indian Subcontinent and the western shores of modern Sri Lanka during the early Chera period. One such community is the Giraavaru people who claim ancestry from ancient Tamils. One theory suggests that the Giraavaru islanders may not have been the only early settlers in the Maldives. They are mentioned in ancient legends and local folklore about the establishment of the capital and kingly rule in Malé. The Giraavaru people are considered to be one of the earliest communities of settlers on the islands, predating the Christian era. The arrival Sinhalese who where descended from the exiled Prince Vijaya and his party of several hundred who arrived on the island between 543 to 483 BCE of an Indo-Aryan stock after having been made to leave their native regions of Orissaand the Sinhapura kingdom in north west India, settled in Sri Lanka and some in the Maldives marks the development of the Indo-Aryan language Dhivehi (a dialectic derivation of Sinhala). There are some signs of Arab and east Asian inhabitants mostly in southernmost atolls.

Buddhism came to the Maldives at the time of Emperor Ashoka's expansion and became the dominant religion of the people of the Maldives until the 12th century AD.

Western interest in the archaeological remains of early cultures on the Maldives began with the work of H.C.P. Bell, a British commissioner of the Ceylon Civil Service. Bell was shipwrecked on the islands in 1879, and returned several times to investigate ancient Buddhist ruins. He studied the ancient mounds, called havitta or ustubu (these names are derived from chaitiya or stupa) ( Mahl: ހަވިއްތަ ) by the Maldivians, which are found on many of the atolls.

Although Bell asserted that the ancient Maldivians followed Theravada Buddhism, many local Buddhist archaeological remains now in the Malé Museum display in fact Mahayana and Vajrayana iconography.

According to a legend from the Maldivian Folklore, a prince named Koimala from present day India or Sri Lanka entered the Maldives from the North (Ihavandhu) and, after being welcomed by the Giraavaru people, became the first king from the House of Theemuge. The ancient Maldivian Kings promoted Buddhism and the first Maldive writings and artistic achievements in the form of highly developed sculpture and architecture are from that period. The entire archipelego was conquered by the medieval Chola Tamil emperor Raja Raja Chola I in the early 11th century, becoming a part of the Chola empire. The conversion to Islam is mentioned in the ancient edicts written in copper plates from the end of the 12th century AD. There is also a locally well-known legend about a foreign saint (a Persian from the city of Tabriz or a Moroccan Berber according to the versions) who subdued a demon known as Rannamaari.

Over the centuries, the islands have been visited and their development influenced by sailors and traders from countries on the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

Although governed as an independent Islamic sultanate from 1153 to 1968, the Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887 until July 25, 1965. In 1953, there was a brief, abortive attempt to form a republic, but the sultanate was re-imposed. In 1959, objecting to Nasir's centralism, the inhabitants of the three southernmost atolls protested against the government. They formed the United Suvadive Republic and elected, Abdullah Afeef as president and Hithadhoo as capital of this republic.

After independence from Britain in 1965, the sultanate continued to operate for another three years under King Muhammad Fareed. On November 11, 1968, the monarchy was abolished and replaced by a republic, although this was a cosmetic change without any significant alteration in the structures of government. The official name of the country was changed from Maldive Islands to the Maldives in a progressive manner. Tourism began to be developed on the archipelago about five years later, by the beginning of the 1970s.

In November 1988, a group of Maldivians headed by Mr. Lutfee a small time businessman used Tamil mercenaries from Sri Lanka to stage a coup against President Gayoom. After an appeal by the Maldivian government for help, the Indian military intervened against the mercenaries in order to reinstate Gayoom in power. On the night of November 3, 1988, the Indian Air Force airlifted a parachute battalion group from Agra and flew them non-stop over 2,000 kilometres (1,240 mi) to the Maldives. The Indian paratroopers landed at Hulule and secured the airfield and restored the Government rule at Malé within hours. The brief, bloodless operation, labelled Operation Cactus, also involved the Indian Navy.

On 26 December 2004, the Maldives were devastated by a tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Only nine islands were reported to have escaped any flooding[citation needed], while fifty-seven islands faced serious damage to critical infrastructure, fourteen islands had to be totally evacuated, and six islands were decimated. A further twenty-one resort islands were forced to shut down due to serious damage. The total damage was estimated at over 400 million dollars or some 62% of the GDP. A total of 108 people, including six foreigners, reportedly died in the tsunami. The destructive impact of the waves on the low-lying islands was mitigated by the fact there was no continental shelf or land mass upon which the waves could gain height. The tallest waves were reported 14 feet (4.3 m) high.

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Geography
The Maldives holds the record for being the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 m (7½ ft), though in areas where construction exists this has been increased to several metres. Over the last century, sea levels have risen about 20 centimetres (8 in); further rises of the ocean could threaten the existence of Maldives.

The first accurate maritime charts of this complex Indian Ocean atoll group were the British Admiralty Charts. In 1834-36 Capt. Robert Moresby, assisted by Lieutenants Christopher and Young, undertook the difficult cartography of the Maldive Islands. The resulting charts were printed as three separate large maps by the Hydrographic Service of the Royal Navy.

A tsunami in the Indian Ocean caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake caused serious damage to the socioeconomic infrastucture which left many people homeless, and irriversible damage to the environment. After the disaster, cartographers are planning to redraw the maps of the islands due to alterations caused by the tsunami.

On April 22, 2008, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom pleaded for a cut in global greenhouse gas emissions, warning that rising sea levels could submerge the island nation of Maldives.

The reef is composed of coral debris and living coral. This acts as a natural barrier against the sea, forming lagoons. Other islands, set at a distance and parallel to the reef, have their own protective fringe of reef. An opening in the surrounding coral barrier allows access to the calmer lagoon waters.

The barrier reefs of the islands protect them from the storms and high waves of the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean has a great affect on the climate of the country by acting as a heat buffer, absorbing, storing, and slowly releasing the tropical heat. The heat is further mitigated by cool sea breezes.

A layer of humus six inches (152 mm) thick forms the top layer of soil on the islands. Below the humus layer are two feet of sandstone, followed by sand and then fresh water. Due to excessive salt in the soil near the beach, vegetation is limited there to a few plants such as shrubs, flowering plants, and small hedges. In the interior of the island, more vegetation such as mangrove and banyan grow. Coconut palms, the national tree, are able to grow almost everywhere on the islands and are integral to the lifestyle of the natives.

The limited vegetation is supplemented by the abundance of coral reefs and marine life.

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Tourism
The development of tourism has fostered the overall growth of the country's economy. It has created direct and indirect employment and income generation opportunities in other related industries. Today, tourism is the country's biggest foreign exchange earner, contributing to twenty percent of the GDP. There are eighty-seven tourist resorts in operation. The year 2006 recorded 467,154 tourist arrivals.The first tourist resorts were opened in 1972 with Bandos island resort and Kurumba Village

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Inhabited islands of the Maldives
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Haa Alif Atoll Baarah
Berinmadhoo - Dhiddhoo - Filladhoo - Hathifushi - Hoarafushi - Ihavandhoo - Kelaa - Maarandhoo - Mulhadhoo - Muraidhoo - Thakandhoo - Thuraakunu - Uligamu - Vashafaru - Utheemu
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Haa Dhaalu Atoll Faridhoo
Finey - Hanimaadhoo - Hirimaradhoo - Kulhudhuffushi - Kumundhoo - Kunburudhoo - Kurinbi - Maavaidhoo - Makunudhoo - Naivaadhoo - Nellaidhoo - Neykurendhoo - Nolhivaram - Nolhivaranfaru - Vaikaradhoo
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Shaviyani Atoll Bileffahi
Feevah - Feydhoo - Foakaidhoo - Funadhoo - Goidhoo - Kanditheemu - Komandoo - Lhaimagu - Maakandoodhoo - Maaungoodhoo - Maroshi - Milandhoo - Narudhoo - Noomaraa
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Noonu Atoll Foddhoo
Henbandhoo - Holhudhoo - Kendhikolhudhoo - Kudafaree - Landhoo - Lhohi - Maafaru - Maalhendhoo - Magoodhoo - Manadhoo - Miladhoo - Velidhoo
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Raa Atoll Alifushi
Angolhitheemu - Fainu - Hulhudhuffaaru - Inguraidhoo - Innamaadhoo - Kandholhudhoo - Kinolhas - Maakurathu - Maduvvaree - Meedhoo - Rashgetheemu - Rasmaadhoo - Ungoofaaru Vaadhoo
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Baa Atoll Dharavandhoo
Dhonfanu - Eydhafushi - Fehendhoo - Fulhadhoo Goidhoo - Hithaadhoo - Kamadhoo - Kendhoo - Kihaadhoo - Kudarikilu - Maalhos - Thulhaadhoo
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Lhaviyani Atoll Hinnavaru
Kurendhoo - Maafilaafushi - Naifaru - Olhuvelifushi
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Kaafu Atoll Dhiffushi
Gaafaru - Gulhi Guraidhoo - Himmafushi - Huraa - Kaashidhoo - Maafushi - Thulusdhoo
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Alif Alif Atoll Bodufulhadhoo
Feridhoo - Himandhoo - Maalhos - Mathiveri - Rasdhoo - Thoddoo - Ukulhas
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Alif Dhaal Atoll Dhangethi
Dhiddhoo - Dhigurah - Fenfushi - Haggnaameedhoo - Kunburudhoo - Maamingili - Mahibadhoo - Mandhoo Omadhoo
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Vaavu Atoll Felidhoo
Fulidhoo - Keyodhoo - Rakeedhoo - Thinadhoo
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Meemu Atoll Dhiggaru
Kolhufushi - Madifushi - Maduvvaree - Mulah Muli - Naalaafushi - Raimmandhoo - Veyvah
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Faafu Atoll Bileddhoo
Dharanboodhoo - Feeali - Magoodhoo - Nilandhoo
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Dhaalu Atoll Bandidhoo
Gemendhoo - Hulhudheli - Kudahuvadhoo - Maaenboodhoo - Meedhoo - Rinbudhoo Vaanee
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Thaa Atoll Burunee
Dhiyamingili - Gaadhiffushi - Guraidhoo - Hirilandhoo - Kandoodhoo - Kinbidhoo - Madifushi - Omadhoo - Thimarafushi - Vandhoo - Veymandoo - Vilufushi
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Laamu Atoll Dhanbidhoo
Fonadhoo - Gaadhoo - Gan - Hithadhoo - Isdhoo - Kalaidhoo - Kunahandhoo - Maabaidhoo - Maamendhoo - Maavah - Mundoo
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Gaafu Alif Atoll Dhaandhoo
Dhevvadhoo - Dhiyadhoo - Gemanafushi - Kanduhulhudhoo - Kolamaafushi - Kondey - Maamendhoo - Nilandhoo - Vilingili
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Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll Fares
Maathodaa - Fiyoaree - Gaddhoo - Hoandeddhoo - Madaveli - Nadellaa - Rathafandhoo - Thinadhoo - Vaadhoo
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Gnaviyani Atoll
Fuvammulah
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Seenu Atoll Meedhoo
Hithadhoo - Maradhoo - Maradhoo-Feydhoo - Feydhoo - Hulhudhoo - Hulhumeedhoo
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