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The Maldives: A Nation of Atolls

Michael J Risk, Robert D. Sluka

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Abstract

Abstract The Maldives are a double chain of islands in the Indian Ocean stretching for almost 1000 km south of Sri Lanka (74,75). There are more than 1200 islands (only 202 are inhabited), grouped into 19 atolls. The word atoll itself comes from Dhivehi, a Sinhalese dialect which is the language of the Maldives, and means an administrative district (4). The name Maldives is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word malodheep, meaning garland, presumably from the appearance of the chain of islands from the deck of a ship. Marco Polo called the Maldives ‘the flower of the Indies’.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Abstract The Maldives are a double chain of islands in the Indian Ocean stretching for almost 1000 km south of Sri Lanka (74,75). There are more than 1200 islands (only 202 are inhabited), grouped into 19 atolls. The word atoll itself comes from Dhivehi, a Sinhalese dialect which is the language of the Maldives, and means an administrative district (4). The name Maldives is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word malodheep, meaning garland, presumably from the appearance of the chain of islands from the deck of a ship. Marco Polo called the Maldives ‘the flower of the Indies’.

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Available abstract

Abstract The Maldives are a double chain of islands in the Indian Ocean stretching for almost 1000 km south of Sri Lanka (74,75). There are more than 1200 islands (only 202 are inhabited), grouped into 19 atolls. The word atoll itself comes from Dhivehi, a Sinhalese dialect which is the language of the Maldives, and means an administrative district (4). The name Maldives is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word malodheep, meaning garland, presumably from the appearance of the chain of islands from the deck of a ship. Marco Polo called the Maldives ‘the flower of the Indies’.

Key concepts: Atoll, Geography, Oceanography, Geology, Reef

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