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General Information
Area: 298 sq km (115 sq miles).
Population: 269,010 (2000).
Population Density: 902.7 per sq km.
Capital: Malé. Population: 74,497 (2000).
GEOGRAPHY: The Maldives Republic is located 500km (300 miles) southwest of the southern tip of India and consists of about 1190 low-lying coral islands, of which only 200 are inhabited. Most of the inhabited islands are covered by lush tropical vegetation and palm trees, while the numerous uninhabited islands, some of which are mere sand spits or coral tips, are covered in shrubs. Each island is surrounded by a reef enclosing a shallow lagoon. Hundreds of these islands together with other coral growth form an atoll, surrounding a lagoon. All the islands are low-lying, none more than 2m (7ft) above sea level. The majority of the indigenous population does not mix with the tourist visitors, with the exception of those involved with tourism in the resorts and Malé.
Government: Republic since 1965. Gained independence from the UK in 1965. Head of State and Government: President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom since 1978.
Language: The national language is Dhivehi. English is widely used as a business language in government offices and the commercial sector. Other languages are widely used within tourist areas.
Religion: The indigenous population is almost entirely Sunni Muslim.
Time: GMT + 5.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round-pin plugs are used, although square-pin plugs are now becoming more common.
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 960. Outgoing international code: 00.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network operated by Dhiraagu, the Maldives Telecommunications Company (website: www.dhiraagu.com.mv). Handsets can by hired by the day.
Fax
Services are available in Malé and the resorts.
Internet
The Internet can be accessed from most areas of the Maldives. Malé, the capital, has an Internet cafe and almost all resorts facilitate the sending and receiving of e-mails. The islands’ ISP is Dhiraagu (see above).
Telegram
Telecommunications in the Maldives are good – telegram services are available to and from anywhere in the world from Dhiraagu in Malé and the resorts.
Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes about a week. Post office hours: Sat-Thurs 0730-1330 and 1600-1750.
Press
The Maldives News Bulletin is published weekly in English. The other dailies Haveeru Daily, Aafathis and Miadhu News have English sections. Information about local events is widely available on all the resort islands.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
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