The Maldives (Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ Dhivehi
Raajje), officially the Republic of Maldives, is a small island nation in South Asia, located in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
from the Asian continent. The chain of 26 atolls stretches from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in
the north to Addu Atoll in the south to the equator. Comprising a territory spanning roughly 298 square kilometres
(115 sq mi), the Maldives is one of the world's most geographically
dispersed sovereign states as well
as the smallest Asian country by land area and population, with
around 515,696 inhabitants. Malé is the capital and the most populated
city, traditionally called the "King's Island" where the ancient royal dynasties
ruled for its central location. The Maldives archipelago is located on the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge, a
vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean; this also forms a terrestrial ecoregion, together with the Chagos Archipelago and Lakshadweep.
The Maldives consists of 1,192 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls,
that stretch along a length of 871 kilometers north-south direction, spread
over roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi), only 298 square
kilometers of that is dry land, making this one of the world's most dispersed
countries. Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with maximum and
average natural ground levels of only 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) and 1.5
metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, respectively. In areas where
construction exists, however, this has been increased to several metres. More
than 80 per cent of the country's land is composed of coral islands which rise
less than one metre above sea level. As a result, the Maldives are at high risk
of being submerged due to rising sea levels.
The largest ethnic group
is Dhivehin, i.e. the Maldivians, native to the historic region
of the Maldive Islands comprising today's Republic of Maldives and the island
of Minicoy in Union territory of Lakshadweep, India.
They share the same culture and speak the Dhivehi language. They are principally an Indo-Aryan people, having
traces of Middle Eastern, South Asian, Austronesian and African
genes in the population. In the past there was also a small Tamil population known as the Giraavaru people. This group have now been almost completely
absorbed into the larger Maldivian society but were once native to the island
of Giraavaru (Kaafu Atoll).
This island was evacuated in 1968 due to heavy erosion of the island.
The first stamps used in
the islands were overprinted stamps of Ceylon issued on 9 September 1906. When
those ran out, un-overprinted stamps of Ceylon were used. The first stamps
inscribed "Maldives" were issued on 15 May 1909. On 26 July 1965, the
sultanate gained independence from the United Kingdom. In 1968, the Republic of
Maldives was established.
The covers posted on October 17, 2016 and I received in my hands on October 30, 2016.
The cover sent on March 19 20017 and I received on April 06, 2017.
The cover sent on March 19 20017 and I received on April 06, 2017.
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