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Maldives Facts & Worksheets

The official name of the country Maldives is the Republic of Maldives. The small island nation lies in the Southeast region of Asia, located on the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean.

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The official name of the country Maldives is the Republic of Maldives. The small island nation lies in the Southeast region of Asia, located on the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean.

See the fact file below for more information on the Maldives or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Maldives worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

CAPITAL OF MALDIVES

  • The capital city of The Republic of Maldives is Malé.
  • Malé, aside from being Maldives’ capital, is also the most populous city in the country.
  • Malé has a population of 215,879.
  • Malé has an area of 8.3 square kilometres or 3.2 square miles.
  • The city of Malé is found on the geographical region of the North Malé Atoll, particularly on its southern edge.
  • Malé is also known as one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

FLAG DESIGN

  • The national flag of the Republic of Maldives features a green rectangle on a center of a red field. On the centermost part of the flag liws a white crescent moon facing the fly side of the flag.
  • The flag was adopted on July 25, 1965.
  • The Maldivian national flag was designed by Abdul Majeed Didi, who served as the Sultan of Maldives from 1944 to 1952; also recognized as the “father of modern Maldives.”
  • The red rectangle on the flag symbolizes the courage of Maldives’s heroes.
  • The green rectangle represents peace and prosperity.
  • The white crescent moon represents the faith of Islam.

GEOGRAPHY

  • Maldives is found southwest of Sri Lanka and India.
  • Maldives comprises 1,192 coral islands and 26 atolls.
  • The land territory of Maldives spans 298 square kilometers or 115 square miles.
  • Maldives is known as the smallest country in Asia, by land area and population.
  • Maldives is also known as the world’s most geographically dispersed sovereign state.
  • Maldives has an average natural ground level of 2.4 meters, making it the lowest country in the world.
  • The climate of Maldives is classified as a tropical monsoon climate.

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • The citizens of Maldives are called Maldivians.
  • According to a 2014 census, Maldives has a population of 339,761.
  • According to a 2020 estimate, the Maldivian populace grew to 379,270.
  • 100% of the population of Maldives are native Maldivians, also called Maldive Islanders.
  • Ethnically speaking, Maldivians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group native to the Maldive Islands.
  • The official language of Maldives is Dhivehi. English is a recognized language.
  • Maldivians are mandated by the law to subscribe to the religion of Islam.

ETYMOLOGY/TOPONYMY

  • The first kingdom of Maldives was named Deeva Maari as it first settlers were known as the Dheyvis.
  • From 1100 until 1166, the name Diva Khuda was used to refer to Maldives.
  • The name Maldives could possibly come from the Sanskrit terms mālā and dvīla which means “Garland Islands,” or Maala Divaina that means “Necklace Islands.”

HISTORY

  • The Maldivian archipelago was settled by Buddhist people from Sri Lanka and South India in the 5th century.
  • Islam was adopted on the islands in 1153 CE.
  • Portuguese forces arrived in Maldives in 1558 and expelled from the islands in 1573.
  • In the 17th century Maldives was ruled by a sultanate with the protection of the Dutch rulers of Ceylon.
  • The British forces took over Ceylon in 1796, and Maldives became a British protectorate.
  • The protectorate status of Maldives was then only formalized in 1887.
  • The first democratic constitution of Maldives was proclaimed in 1932.
  • A republic of Maldives was proclaimed in 1953.
  • Maldives declared independence from the United Kingdom on July 26, 1965.
  • Maldives became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1982.
  • The current constitution of Maldives was proclaimed on August 7, 2008.

CULTURE

  • The language of Maldives, Dhivehi, is closely related to Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka, and may have influenced the islands’ culture.
  • Astrology books that feature fish drawings were found on the island of Fua Mulaku, where Fuvahmulah City is located.
  • A malaafaiy is a wooden cover particularly used for food items. It is made from lacquered wood with intricate design such as Arabic writing.
  • Popular Maldivian music is based on Hindi songs.
  • Maldivian music has similarities, in terms of cadence and rhythm, to Northern Indian music, as well as their dances.
  • The bulbul tarang is the favorite instrument of Maldivians, it is a horizontal accordion.
  • A daily Maldivian meal consists of fish and rice.
  • Maldives lack farming lands, so there are only few vegetables.

LANDMARKS

  • Hanifaru Bay — the bay is located on Baa atoll. It is where the largest gathering of manta rays in the world occurs.
  • Ariadhoo Buddhist stupa — located on the Ari atoll are several mounds of Buddhist monuments. In 1959, a symbol of a phallus was discovered carved from a coral stone.
  • Malé — The capital city of Maldives is a landmark itself, as it has been the capital city since the ancient times.
  • Ithaa — located in the Alif Dhaal atoll is the world’s first undersea restaurant. It was built in 2005.
  • Muliaage — located in the city of Malé, it is the former presidential residence of Maldives.

Maldives Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Maldives across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Maldives worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Maldives. The small island nation lies in the Southeast region of Asia, located on the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Maldives Facts
  • Treasure Island
  • Fact or Bluff
  • History of Maldives
  • Decoding Terms
  • Famous For
  • Neighboring Countries
  • Virtual Tour
  • Symbols of Maldives
  • My Ideal Trip
  • Maldives Mementos

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Link will appear as Maldives Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 2, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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