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 The Maldives is situated in the South West of Sri Lanka, on the equator. The numerous coral reef islands, 1,190 in total, form an archipelago of 26 natural atolls ( groups of neighbouring coral islands). These 26 atolls are organised into 19 administrative atolls with the capital island of Male' established as an entity of its own forming the twentieth division. Seen from air, the atolls and the islands form breathtakingly beautiful patterns against the blue depths of the Indian Ocean. Our beauty and natural resources are strongly linked with economic development of the country. Such awareness has raised many concerns and the Government is taking extensive measures towards protecting the environment.
The climate of Maldives is warm year round, determined by the monsoons. However, being on the equator, the monsoons are mild and not as defined as in neighbouring countries. Of the two monsoons, the southwest monsoon from May to October brings some rain and wind. The northeast monsoon, from November to April, is the dry season with very little wind. The temperature varies little with an annual average daily maximum of 30.4 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 25.9 degrees Celsius. The annual rainfall stood at just over 1,900 millimetres in 1996. In the same year, the country, with the equator running through it, had over 2,800 hours of sunshine, an average of about 8 hrs a day.
According to folklore, the Maldives was first colonised by an Indo-Aryan race between the 4th and the 5th centuries BC, however it is certain that early settlers came via Sri Lanka and practiced age-old Buddhist customs. The conversion to Islam took place in 1153. Legend tells us that during this time a demon rose from the depths of the ocean once every month and demanded a virgin girl to be sacrificed. A pious Moroccan saint, Abu al-Barakat, who visited Maldives at that time learned of the story and exorcised the demon by reading verses from the Quran. The event led the King at the time to embrace Islam. The country has remained independent except for short periods of time, the longest being the 17-year Portuguese rule in the 16th Century. It is said that the sea grew red with Muslim blood as the invaders tried to enforce their Christian beliefs upon the islanders. In 1573, Mohammed Thakurufaanu, the greatest Maldivian hero, led a band of men into Male’ harbour and in the pitch darkness of the night searched for and slaughtered their enemy. In 1782 the Malabars from the East Coast of India attacked the Maldives destroying the palace and driving the Sultan into exile. Their rule was short-lived. Within months the people became resistant and a group led by Ghaazee Hassan Izzuddeen fought against the enemy forces and defeated them. In 1887 the Maldives became a British protectorate. However, the British never interfered with the internal politics of the country. In 1965 the country became a fully independent state and in 1968 a Republic was declared.
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