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Flag of Maldives

Maldives

Capital: Malé

  • The Maldives has 26 atolls and 1,192 coral islands, covering about 298 km² of land spread over roughly 90,000 km² of sea.
  • The highest natural point is about 2.4 m above sea level, and more than 80% of the land is coral islands under 1 m high.
  • Tourism makes up about 28% of GDP and more than 60% of foreign exchange receipts; the first resorts opened in 1972.
  • The islands have been inhabited for over 2,500 years, and the republic was declared on 11 November 1968.
  • Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll sometimes hosts up to 100 manta rays at once when tides push plankton into the bay.

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