Maldives location. Maldives - where amazing islands are located on the world map. Travel packages and tours

Where are the Maldives on the world map and Indian Ocean

We often hear that the most best vacation- a vacation on the islands. And you know, anyone who has vacationed on the islands will definitely confirm this. It’s beautiful there, gorgeous beaches, far from the “mainland”, no noise, clean air... there are a lot of advantages and advantages, but there are few islands. One of the most beloved and visited are the Maldives. On the world map you need to look for them in the Indian Ocean, south of India. The capital of the atolls is Male, and the population does not exceed half a million inhabitants.

Geography: where are the Maldives?

As we have already written, the Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka is approximately 700 kilometers away. About the same distance to the coast of India.
The Republic of Maldives is a chain of 26 atolls, and they in turn consist of 1192 coral islands. Surprisingly, the Maldives is the lowest located state! The most high point is located at an altitude of approximately 2.4 meters above sea level. That is, in fact, any medium wave can easily flood the entire state.
The capital of the islands is Male. This is generally the only city on the islands. Most of the inhabitants of the archipelago live here.

As we said, the closest neighbors are Sri Lanka and India. And then there is only a huge endless ocean! The coast of Africa is almost five thousand kilometers, and Australia is even more, about seven thousand kilometers.

Climate and weather

Thanks to his geographical location, the Maldives is hot all year round. The air temperature ranges from +24 to +30 degrees depending on the month. The most low temperature is recorded in winter, when at night the air can cool down to +17, and the highest temperature occurs in May, and it is equal to +32 degrees.
The dry season lasts from November to March, and the rainy season runs from June to August.

Undersea world

The underwater world off the coast of the Maldives is very diverse. Of course, this is the Indian Ocean!
Coral reefs are home to more than 1,100 species of fish. There are five species of sea turtles, 21 species of whales and dolphins and many, many other marine inhabitants.
No wonder this place is so loved by diving enthusiasts. Any diving off the coast of the Maldives is always a beautiful adventure and incredible views. A lot of interesting and scientific videos are filmed here. Expeditions take place here all the time. If you are coming here on vacation, then at least once, it is worth diving under the water with scuba diving.

A third of the islands' entire economy comes from tourism, which accounts for 28% of the state's total GDP
- the state sells its products for 125 million dollars, and buys other products for 1.2 billion dollars
- Most of the export is fish. This product accounts for about 70% of all sales
- any island in the Maldives can be crossed on foot in two hours
- many of the islands of the archipelago are uninhabited

Detailed map Maldives in Russian. Map of roads, cities and regions on the map of the Maldives. Show Maldives on map.

Where are the Maldives on the world map?

The Maldives, or the Republic of Maldives, is located in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean between the continents of Asia and Africa, approximately 700 kilometers southwest of the island of Sri Lanka and the Hindustan Peninsula, on which India is located. The archipelago consists of about a thousand islands stretching for almost 1000 kilometers. Holidays here are famous for privacy, tranquility and first-class service. The country is famous for its snow-white beaches, picturesque nature, wealth underwater world Indian Ocean.

Interactive map of the Maldives with islands

The islands that make up the republic are a group of atolls that consist of numerous islets. Almost every island in the Maldives belongs to some kind of hotel, so holidays here take place in an atmosphere of a unique sense of privacy and tranquility. The most famous atolls: Kaafu Atoll, or North Male (27 resort and 8 fishing islands), Kaafu Atoll, or South Male (19 resort islands and 3 inhabited local residents), as well as the Atolls of Vaavu, Meemu, Seenu, Faavu.

Geographical location of the Maldives

The islands are located in the vastness of the Indian Ocean and stretch for a thousand kilometers north of the equator. The Maldives is the lowest located state in the world. The islands rise only slightly above sea level: their highest point on the southern Addu Atoll is only 2.4 meters. Geographical coordinates Maldives: 3°28′36″ N. w. and 72°50′12″ E. d.

Territory of the Maldives

The republic's land area occupies 298 square kilometers - 210th in the world. However, if we take into account maritime spaces, the total territory of the state will be about 90,000 square kilometers, of which 97% is water surface.

Regions and Atolls of the Maldives

Administratively, the Maldives is divided into twenty island groups (atolls) and the capital atoll city of Male. These atolls are included in eight regions formed by geographical location. So, among them there are the Far Northern, Northern, Central and some other regions.

Geographic maps are used by both experienced travelers and novice tourists. Modern versions clearly and in detail display the general location of countries, cities and their internal infrastructure.

Maldives on the world map in Russian

This piece of paradise is difficult to spot on a regular world map. The island chain is located off the coast in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean. Only zooming in allows you to clearly see the location of the Maldives.

They are located 700 km from Sri Lanka and India. In the southwest there is a famous resort area - the Seychelles.

The Maldives is a chain of 1,192 coral islands united into 26 atolls. Moreover, administratively they are divided into 20 atolls. The most famous of them are: North and South Kaafu;

Seenu;
Meemu;
Faavu;
Vaavu.

The Maldives is washed by the Indian Ocean

An interactive map in Russian will help you understand the specific location of a particular resort.

Maldives on a map of Asia in Russian

Looking at the Maldives on a map, it is clear that they extend north of the equator between Eurasia and Africa. Island state refers to South Asia, which also includes countries such as Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India.

The flight to Sri Lanka takes approximately one hour, and a little longer to India. Approximately 5 hours flight from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and 8 hours from China.

Map of the Maldives with resorts in Russian

For the convenience of tourists in navigating the area filled with various vacation spots, a Russian-language map has been created with the designations of all the islands and atolls. The atlas shows a general view of the archipelago. The most popular destinations among tourists, routes, the largest resort areas, where you can find everything you need for a comfortable pastime. Using such a navigator, any guest of the republic without knowledge in English calmly moves among the numerous islands.

Important! Uninhabited places on the territory are not marked.

Map of the Maldives with landmarks shows best places for relax. For example, the Banana Reef Nature Reserve, where lovers of exploring underwater caves enjoy the richness and vibrant life of the marine world.

Addu Atoll hotels on the map

With a local coordinate system, it is easy for tourists to navigate the choice of resorts, the most popular of which are:

Male is the republican capital, offering guests a lot of excursion programs And exciting entertainment, markets, museums. The presidential palace and one of the most grandiose mosques are especially attractive.
Faavu is famous among true gourmets who appreciate spas and food in best restaurants and always striving to look 100%!
Arias are preferred by lovers of diversity in flora and fauna. The famous turtle bays are located here.
It is useful for tourists to study transport links on the map of the Republic of Maldives. In the middle part you can see the main international airport of Male. Next door on the island of Khuhule is the international airport named after Ibrahim Nasir, which is one of the largest for seaplanes. The path to it from the capital by speedboat or ferry is clearly visible. Cafu is the most tourist area. Most of the hotels are located here. Among popular destinations also the Aria and Baa atolls, which are relatively close to the airport.

Note! It is difficult to see a specific island among thousands of islands. It is better to first find the name of the atoll on the map, and then the desired location.

If you plan to stay at several hotels, it will be useful to take a look at the neighboring resort areas in advance, local airports for an accurate overview of your trip, the amount of time needed to travel, nearby attractions, entertainment and opportunities. This way you can distribute your vacation time most effectively.

Regions of the Maldives on the map

The Maldives archipelago is not part of any state. It is an independent presidential republic. The map clearly shows separation from other countries and intra-regional demarcation.

The administrative structure of the Republic of Maldives includes 20 island groups and a capital atoll called Male. There are no lakes or rivers throughout the territory. According to its geographical location, the archipelago is divided into 8 regions: Central, Far Northern, Northern and others. Conventionally, they are all divided into 3 large groups of atolls:

northern;
average;
southern.

Chain from the Maldives

It is very interesting to see what the Maldives looks like from above. According to one version, each atoll appeared on the top of a volcano with islands on its crater, part of a chain of extinct volcanoes. This explains the circular arrangement of land areas, as can be seen on the map of the Maldives. Moreover, they are all very similar to each other. The highest point (2.4 meters above sea level) is located in the southern Addu Atoll.

Yandex and Google maps of the Maldives

Satellite images allow you to see even the smallest islands of the state and their internal infrastructure. Judging by the abundance of private hotels that own the islands, it is clear that tourism is a key industry in the Republic of Maldives. Only guests of the country and service personnel live on their territory. There are guest houses where Maldivians live.

Where the Maldives is is shown on maps from major search engines. All infrastructure facilities available on the territory are presented in detail:

hotels, inns, guest houses;
places transport links(airports, the only port in Male);
entertainment venues;
mosques;
government agencies;
markets, shops;
cafes, restaurants;
beauty salons, spa treatments;
sports clubs, fitness centers, swimming pools;
service companies for aquatic species sports, entertainment;
private educational institutions (for example, diving and surfing courses).

When choosing a vacation spot, interactive maps will help you study tourism, transport and social infrastructure.

Map of Maldives and Bali

For any geographical map It’s easy to notice the differences in the climate of the Maldives and Bali, which are separated by almost 5 thousand km. If the island archipelago is completely surrounded by the Indian Ocean, then the Bali territory is washed by it only from the south and is located much to the north. Therefore, in these two places, although warm, the weather is opposite in seasons.

Note! In Bali, the best period for relaxation is the end of spring and summer; it is preferable to visit the Maldives in winter.

The Republic of Maldives is an independent state representing a chain of islands. Bali is located in the same southern hemisphere of the Earth between Australia and India, but is one island as part of the Malay Archipelago.

Bali Map

Maps of the Maldives and Bali will help you make the right choice of vacation spot. The tourist infrastructure facilities displayed on them, transport routes clearly show the difference.

Advantages and disadvantages of the geographical location of the state for tourism development

The country is located in a favorable climatic conditions location - in the south of India surrounded warm waters Indian Ocean. Great weather all year round, great for beach holiday. The air temperature never drops below +17 degrees Celsius. During the main part of the year it fluctuates around 25-28 degrees. The rainy season begins in June and ends by September. During the winter-spring period, tourists are pleased with the dry weather.

In recent years, Nuunu Atoll has been developing most actively. Particular emphasis is placed on the premium class of tourism. The map shows the abundance of neighboring islands, which has become a key factor in attracting travelers and investors.

The geographical location has both pros and cons for vacationers. Advantages:

Calm atmosphere. The Maldives are popular among connoisseurs of a secluded holiday away from noisy parties, bazaars, and crowded crowds. This is facilitated by small island territories where there is not much room to roam. Unlike many Asian countries, there is no migration flow here seeking to earn money. Local citizens live in separate territories. Each island belongs to one private hotel. The holiday is organized in such a way that guests meet only at joint events, during meals. Therefore, it is chosen by couples in love and tired of hectic life people who want to hide from surrounding views.

Maldives - perfect place for a secluded holiday

The purity and richness of the underwater world. Walking along the ocean coast, guests of the country enjoy clean sandy beaches, crystal waters, lush palm trees. Here is the best diving in the world - in water spaces visibility reaches 40 meters.

Flaws:

Lack of mass entertainment, cultural and excursion offers. Unlike Turkish animation, there are no mass entertainers in the Maldives. Relaxation consists of enjoying nature and water activities. There are no historical or architectural attractions on the islands.
Poor kitchen. No matter how much a holiday in the Maldives costs, the local cuisine is not strong point resort The cuisine, which takes its cues from Indian and Sri Lankan gastronomy, is extremely spicy. Therefore, living for a long time on such a diet is fraught with health. Good food only the largest hotels provide.
Expensive. In addition to the fact that hotels have very high prices for water, juices, and alcohol, a lot of money is spent on private transfer. For example, a boat for two up to neighboring island and back in August 2018 cost about $500. For a candlelit dinner on the ocean shore, tourists shelled out at least 200-300 dollars.

So, the world map shows that the Maldives is an original island chain located in the depths of the Indian Ocean, far from crowded places at a distance of about 5000 km from Bali and is one of the countries of South Asia. More than a thousand islands are grouped into 20 atolls and divided into 8 large regions. Yandex and Google have Russian-language versions of a detailed representation of the internal infrastructure of the entire Maldivian territory.

*the prices shown are current as of August 2018.

Millions of years have passed since the planet was shaken by global cataclysms and fiery tornadoes of volcanoes stirred up the waters of the ancient Indian Ocean.

But time passed and, having gone out, the volcanoes settled, forming coral reefs, which over time became the coral islands spread out in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean, known to us as the Maldives. Today, these are 1,190 coral islands stretching 820 kilometers from north to south and 120 kilometers to the west with white sandy beaches, unique tropical vegetation and amazingly beautiful, crystal clear, blue lagoons. The islands are grouped into 26 atolls, which vary in size and natural features. The islands, which stretch in a double chain perpendicular to the equator, rise only two meters above ocean waters, and their area is very small - only 10,400 square kilometers.

In 1965, a state was founded in the Maldives - the Republic of Maldives, which has borders in the southwest with India and Sri Lanka. The area of the Maldives Republic is 298 thousand square kilometers and more than 99% of the Maldivian territory is water. Lives on more than two hundred islands local population, whose number is 200 thousand, about a hundred picturesque pieces of land are built up tourist resorts, and almost a thousand islands are uninhabited.

Relief

The relief of the most beautiful coral islands is flat, and the islands themselves are cone-shaped. The largest atolls include Mimu Atoll, South Male, North Male, Dhaalu (Dhaalu Atoll), Addu, Fafu (Nord Niland), Baa, Lhaviyani and Aria Atoll. Addu Atoll is the largest island in the archipelago, it is five kilometers long and three kilometers wide. The big surprise for tourists on this atoll is that hidden in the dense vegetation of palm trees, flowering shrubs and banana plantations beautiful lake, where a lot of birds wait out the winter.

The Maldives is surrounded by a narrow coral reef, which is usually located ten meters from the island; the longest distance from the Maldives to the reef is fifty meters. The “house” reefs at the resorts of the Maldives make them the best in the world for diving and snorkeling. Reefs are divided into two types: external reefs and internal reefs. If the reef is located on the outer edge of the island, then it is classified as an outer reef. Such reefs have strong currents, heaving waves and large species of fish. Atolls with outer reefs include Kuredu, Filitheyo, Vilamendhoo and others. If reefs and islets are located inside the atoll, without going beyond the outer reef, then these are internal reefs. In these places the water is calm and it is extremely rare to see large fish. Atolls with internal reefs include Eriyadhu, Villivaru, Baros and others.

Capital

The capital of the Republic of Maldives is built on the island of Male, and this city is completely different from the pompous European capitals, and it is only a little more than two kilometers long and only one kilometer wide. This most compact capital city in the world was forced to locate certain capital services on other islands. The infrastructure and social life of the citizens of the Republic of Maldives is also distributed across different islands, for example, there is an island-airport, on one there is a prison built, and on the other there is a poultry farm and a warehouse for strategic fuel reserves. And the only city in the Maldives is, as you might guess, the capital. The city, home to more than 60 thousand people, has a very dense development and in the labyrinth of its narrow streets, walking without a guide, it is easy to get lost. The island of Male, on which the capital of the republic stands, has several names, most often it is called the Royal Island, less often the city of Sultans.

Today I’ll tell you about the geography of the Maldives - a large archipelago consisting of 1200 islands of volcanic origin. These islands form dozens of coral atolls. All of them are located on the map directly above the equator. However, only 200 islands of the Maldives archipelago are inhabited. For tourists Republic of Maldives Known as a charming country, it is also the world's most famous resort. Nature has generously rewarded the islands and atolls of the Maldives with pristine purity and a surprisingly mild climate. In the article I will show you how to understand the countless islands and atolls, and also show Maldives on the world map, which will help bring your unforgettable vacation on a unique beach resort near the equator.

Read also:

How to get to the Maldives

As you can see on the map, the Maldives are located in the middle of the Indian Ocean near the equator. That's why get to the Maldives only possible by plane, arriving in international Airport Male named after Ibrahim Nasir. from Russia can be carried out by direct flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg, the flight time will be 8-10 hours. From other Russian cities you will have to fly with transfers, and the travel time will be from 11 to 26 hours.

Different airlines operate regular flights to the Maldives from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and other regions of our vast planet. It is most convenient to fly a direct flight, for example from Moscow to Male.

All atolls of the Maldives on the map

The Maldives is called the Maldives for a reason. The plural refers to the great number of islands and atolls that make up the Maldives archipelago. And if, as we have already found out, there are almost 1200 islands (or rather, 1196), then there are as many as 26 atolls!

What is an atoll? This is a cluster of islands located on a flat area of the seabed with volcanic origin, near the surface of the water (usually at a depth of no more than 5-10 meters), where a ring-shaped colony of corals develops, reaching a length of up to several tens of kilometers. Also in the Maldives, atolls are usually called administrative regions, which may consist of more than one geographic atoll. As a result, each atoll in the Maldives has two names, both of which are in use. For example, Male - the capital of the Maldives is located in the South Male Atoll or Kaafu Atoll.

Map of Maldives atolls:

Map of the 20 atolls of the Maldives archipelago

As you can see, out of the 20 administrative groups of atolls located in the Maldives, only 10 are open for tourism (highlighted in color on the map), and some of them are partially open.

Lavianu Atoll — Lhaviyani(Faadhihpolhu)
Raa Atoll — Raa(Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi)
Baa Atoll — Baa(Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi)
Kaafu Atoll — Kaafu(North and South Male Atoll), a group of islands consisting of the capital Male, and the island-airport of Hulule and resort islands located around
Ari Atoll(Alif-Alif) - Alifu(Ari) - located in the west of Kaafu Atoll, the second most popular among tourists after Kaafu Atoll
Vaavu Atoll(to Felid) - Vaavu(Felidhu)
Meemu Atoll(Mulak) - Meemu(Mulak)
Faafu Atoll — Faafu(Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi)
Dhaalu Atoll — Dhaalu(Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi)
Addu Atoll(Siena) - Seenu(Addu) - the southernmost atoll, the second most populous, it has the island-airport of Gan

Ten others atolls in the Maldives, not highlighted in color on the map, are practically uninhabited, but they have the best resorts: Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Laamu. Nyavinani, Seenu, Shaviyani (Noonu), and Thaa.

Maldivian atoll names are more complex, so the shorter names from the top map are commonly used. However, in some places you can also find complete names of atolls in the Maldives, which are shown on the map below:

Ihavendhippolhu Atoll
Thiladhunmathee Atoll
Maamakunudhoo Atoll
Milashunmadulu Atoll
Maalhosmadulu Atoll
Faadhippolhu Atoll
Goidhu Atoll
Addu Atoll
North Male Atoll
South Male Atoll
Ari Atoll
Felidhoo Atoll
Nilandhoo Atoll
Kolhimadulu Atoll
Hadhunmathee Atoll
Huvadhoo Atoll

Names of atolls in the Maldives

Maldives on the world map

Notice Maldives on the world map pretty hard. The chain of islands near the equator is very far from land, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and may not immediately catch your eye. But by enlarging the Google map, you can see exactly where the Maldives are.

550 kilometers northeast of the Maldives are the island of Sri Lanka and the Hindustan Peninsula. In the southwest - another famous resort -