Geography of the Maldives

Geography of Maldives
Continent	South Asia
Region	Indian Ocean
Coordinates	3°15′N 73°00′E / 3.250°N 73.000°E
Area	Ranked 186th
• Total	298 km2 (115 sq mi)
• Land	100%
• Water	0%
Coastline	1,129 km (702 mi)
Borders	None
Highest point	Mount Villingili in the Addu Atoll; 5.1 metres (17 ft)
Lowest point	Indian Ocean; 0 m
Exclusive economic zone	923,322 km2 (356,497 sq mi)

Maldives is an island country in the Indian Ocean, South Asia, south-southwest of India. It has a total land size of 298 km² (115 sq mi) which makes it the smallest country in Asia. It consists of approximately 1,190 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers, making this one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world. It has the 31st largest exclusive economic zone of 923,322 km² (356,497 sq mi).^{[citation needed]} Composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, the atolls are situated atop a submarine ridge, 960 km (600 mi) long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs from north to south.^[1] Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives.^[1] For administrative purposes the Maldives government organized these atolls into twenty-one administrative divisions.^[2]

The largest island of Maldives is Gan, which belongs to Laamu Atoll or Hahdhummathi Maldives.^[3] In Addu Atoll the westernmost islands are connected by roads over the reef and the total length of the road is 14 km (8.7 mi).^[4]

^ ^a ^b Ryavec, Karl E. (1995). "Maldives: Physical Environment". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Indian Ocean: five island countries (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 262–264. ISBN 0-8444-0857-3. OCLC 32508646. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^ Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee, Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru. G.Sōsanī. Malé 1999
^ Hasan A. Maniku, The Islands of Maldives. Novelty. Male 1983
^ "The Chinese Ambassador to Maldives H.E. Mr. Wang Fukang and the President of Maldives H.E. Mr. Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom jointly lay the foundation of Laamu Atoll Link Road project under Chinese assistance". mfa.gov.cn. Retrieved 29 June 2022.

[:0-1] Ryavec, Karl E. (1995). "Maldives: Physical Environment". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Indian Ocean: five island countries (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 262–264. ISBN 0-8444-0857-3. OCLC 32508646. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)

[2] Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee, Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru. G.Sōsanī. Malé 1999

[3] Hasan A. Maniku, The Islands of Maldives. Novelty. Male 1983

[4] "The Chinese Ambassador to Maldives H.E. Mr. Wang Fukang and the President of Maldives H.E. Mr. Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom jointly lay the foundation of Laamu Atoll Link Road project under Chinese assistance". mfa.gov.cn. Retrieved 29 June 2022.

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