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Introduction

The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as the Maldive Islands, is a country and archipelagic state in South Asia in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometres (470 miles; 400 nautical miles) from the Asian continent's mainland. The Maldives' chain of 26 atolls stretches across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south.

Malé is the capital and the most populated city, traditionally called the "King's Island", where the ancient royal dynasties ruled from its central location. The Maldivian Archipelago is located on the Chagos–Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean; this also forms a terrestrial ecoregion with the Chagos Archipelago and Lakshadweep. The Maldives has an average ground-level elevation of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, and a highest natural point of only 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in), making it the world's lowest-lying country. Some sources state the highest point, Mount Villingili, as 5.1 metres or 17 feet.

The Maldives has been inhabited for over 2,500 years. Documented contact with the outside world began around 947 AD when Arab travelers began visiting the islands. In the 12th century, partly due to the importance of the Arabs and Persians as traders in the Indian Ocean, Islam reached the Maldivian Archipelago. The Maldives was soon consolidated as a sultanate, developing strong commercial and cultural ties with Asia and Africa. From the mid-16th century, the region came under the increasing influence of European colonial powers, with the Maldives becoming a British protectorate in 1887. Independence from the United Kingdom came in 1965, and a presidential republic was established in 1968 with an elected People's Majlis. The ensuing decades have seen political instability, efforts at democratic reform, and environmental challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels. The Maldives became a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). (Full article...)

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Official Portrait, 2018

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Dhivehi: އިބްރާހީމް މުޙައްމަދް ޞޯލިޙް; born 1 March 1962), commonly known as Ibu, is a Maldivian politician who served as president of the Maldives from 2018 to 2023.

Solih was first elected to the People's Majlis in 1994, then aged 32 as the MP from his home atoll of Faadhippolhu. He played a leading role in the formation of the Maldivian Democratic Party and the Maldives political reform movement from 2003 until 2008, which led to the country adopting a new modern constitution and the establishment of a multi-party democracy for the first time in its history. Solih was also a senior member of parliament and the Special Majlis which wrote the country's constitution. Solih was elected president of Maldives on 23 September 2018 following the 2018 presidential election. (Full article...)

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General images

The following are images from Maldives-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 117th SAARC summit in Addu City, Maldives (from Maldives)
Image 2Solih in November 2023 (from History of the Maldives)
Image 3A plaque in Hukuru Mosque, Malé, Maldives, placed by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar on which Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari's name is written. His last name is also read as "at-Tabrizi" instead of "al-Barbari". (from History of the Maldives)
Image 4Thaana script (from Maldives)
Image 5Woman rocking a traditional Maldivian swingbed (un'dholi) holding a baby in local fashion. (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 6Malé harbour (from Maldives)
Image 7Malé Friday Mosque Minaret, 1981 (from History of the Maldives)
Image 8Malé, the capital of the Maldives (from Maldives)
Image 9A beach of Bathala island (from Maldives)
Image 1017th-century Portuguese drawing of the fortress of Maldives and the archipelago. In Antonio Bocarro book of fortress (1632) (from Maldives)
Image 11A demonstration (Muzhaahira) in Fua Mulaku in support of the government, 1981. (from History of the Maldives)
Image 121753 Van Keulen Map of Ari Atoll (from History of the Maldives)
Image 13The wreck of the Corbin, 1865 (from History of the Maldives)
Image 14Gage Naima dancing while she was a girl at the Royal Court in Male. Based on a picture taken around 1960. (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 15Kashimaage Hakimatu, daughter of an excellent master carpenter boatbuilder, 1983. Fuvahmulah Island (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 16A boy sandboarding in Fuvahmulah, Maldives (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 17Detail of the 1662 Tabula Indiae orientalis by Frederik de Wit (from History of the Maldives)
Image 18Each administrative atoll is marked, along with the thaana letter used to identify the atoll. Natural atolls are labelled in light blue. (from Maldives)
Image 19Filitheyo island beach with tall palm trees and blue fresh lagoons (from Maldives)
Image 20Maldives against Bangladesh at the 2021 SAFF Championship. (from Maldives)
Image 21Muizzu in January 2024 (from History of the Maldives)
Image 22Maalhosmadulu Atoll seen from space. Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll and Southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll can be seen in this picture. (from Maldives)
Image 23Maahefun Festival in Fuvahmulah (from Maldives)
Image 24Masroshi. Maldivian savory snacks (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 25Sign outside the Velana International Airport (from Maldives)
Image 26MNDF Marine Corps soldiers during a training exercise (from Maldives)
Image 27Protesters in Malé in August 2004 (from History of the Maldives)
Image 28Isdhoo Lōmāfānu is the oldest copper-plate book to have been discovered in the Maldives to date. The book was written in 1194 CE (590 AH) in the Evēla form of the Divehi akuru, during the reign of Siri Fennaadheettha Mahaa Radun (Dhinei Kalaminja). (from Maldives)
Image 29Protesters in Malé in August 2005 (from History of the Maldives)
Image 30TMA Terminal (from Maldives)
Image 31Maldivian soldiers at a presidential address in February 2024 (from Maldives)
Image 32Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Maldives (1978–2008). (from History of the Maldives)
Image 33Isdhoo Lōmāfānu is the oldest copper-plate book to have been discovered in the Maldives to date. The book was written in AD 1194 (590 AH) in the Evēla form of the Divehi akuru, during the reign of Siri Fennaadheettha Mahaa Radun (Dhinei Kalaminja). (from History of the Maldives)
Image 3418th-century map by Pierre Mortier of the Netherlands depicting with detail the islands of the Maldives. (from History of the Maldives)
Image 351742 drawing of shells of the money cowry, Cypraea moneta (from History of the Maldives)
Image 3616th-century Portuguese illustration from the Códice Casanatense, depicting workers (from Maldives)
Image 37Building set on fire in Malé during the September 2003 protests (from History of the Maldives)
Image 38Dark clouds bringing heavy rain, common in the rainy season (from Maldives)
Image 39Life expectancy in the Maldives (from Maldives)
Image 40Velana International Airport (from Maldives)
Image 411598 Bertius map of the Maldives, issued in Middelburg, Netherlands. (from History of the Maldives)
Image 42Portuguese presence in the Maldives was established in 1558, by order of Constantino of Braganza, Viceroy of Portuguese India. (from Maldives)
Image 43Yameen in 2014 (from History of the Maldives)
Image 44Flag of the Sultan of the Maldives (from Maldives)
Image 45Copy of a magical drawing. Diguvando. Fuvahmulah. (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 46Butorides striata in the Maldives (from Maldives)
Image 4718th-century map by Pierre Mortier from the Netherlands, depicting with detail the islands of the Maldives (from Maldives)
Image 48Judaage Aminat Didi in 1982, wearing the simple customary libaas worn by all southern Maldivian women before the modern islamification promoted by President Maumoon. First "burugaa" headscarf reached Fuvahmulah only in 1989. (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 49Flyboarding in Maldives (from Maldives)
Image 50A mechanised traditional inter-island dhoni stripped of its sails (from Maldives)
Image 511920 British map of the Maldives (from History of the Maldives)
Image 52Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir signs independence agreement with the British on July 26, 1965. (from Maldives)
Image 53A selection of traditional Maldivian oarblade patterns (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 54An RAF Short Sunderland moored in the lagoon at Addu Atoll, during WWII (from Maldives)
Image 55President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih congratulates Mohamed Nasheed Speaker of the People's Majlis in May 2019 (from Maldives)
Image 56The tsunami that struck Malé on 26 December 2004. Photo taken by Sofwathulla Mohamed while standing on his doorstep. His apartment was entirely washed out damaging all his belongings. (from History of the Maldives)
Image 57A baby sleeping on a swingbed. The duty of the older siblings is to keep it swinging. 1980 (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 581753 Van Keulen Map of Huvadu Atoll (inaccurate) (from History of the Maldives)
Image 59Oriental sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus) at Meeru Island, North Male Atoll (from Maldives)
Image 60Mohammed Waheed Hassan (from History of the Maldives)
Image 61The resort island of Landaa Giraavaru (Baa atoll) (from Maldives)
Image 62Maldives soft coral (from Maldives)

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Selected biography

Aishath Lahfa (born 21 November 1997) is a Maldivian film actress. Before pursuing a career in acting, Lahfa was an active TikTok user, which won her recognition as a performer. She made her acting debut in the web series Girlfriends (2021) and continued playing main roles in several other web series including four-part anthology crime web series Mazloom (2021–2022), family romantic dramas Rimsha (2022) and Yasna (2022). In 2023, she made her first appearance in a feature film with the horror film Kalhaki. (Full article...)

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This is a Good article, an article that meets a core set of high editorial standards.

The Maldives competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, from 17 September to 2 October 1988. This marked their first time participating in the Olympic Games. Seven athletes competed in athletic events; Ismail Asif Waheed, Ahmed Shageef, Abdul Haji Abdul Latheef, Hussein Haleem Ibrahim Manik, Abdul Razzak Aboobakur and Mohamed Hanim in track and field. None of the athletes advanced past the first round in their events, and no Maldivian has won a medal at the Olympics. Hussein Haleem bore the Maldives' flag during the parade of nations of the opening ceremony. (Full article...)

More Good articles...
Malé Friday Mosque Maldives at the 2020 Summer Olympics Maldives at the 2016 Summer Olympics Maldives at the 2012 Summer Olympics Maldives at the 2004 Summer Olympics Maldives at the 2000 Summer Olympics Maldives at the 1996 Summer Olympics Maldives at the 1992 Summer Olympics

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... that Ithaa iin Maldives is the world's first and only underwater restaurant?
... that Fathimath Dheema Ali is the first Olympic qualifier from the Maldives?
... that the minaret adjoining the Malé Friday Mosque has a wide base like a ship's funnel and resembles a wedding cake?
... that after being shipwrecked on Malé Atoll in 1973, Tony Hussein Hinde pioneered surfing in the Maldives, which was previously unknown in the country?
... that Indo-Maldivian relations grew stronger after India responded to Maldives' request for help and thwarted a militant plot to overthrow the government in 1988?

Selected Island - show another

Funadhoo (Dhivehi: ފުނަދޫ) is one of the inhabited islands of the Shaviyani Atoll administrative division and geographically part of the Miladhummadulhu Atoll in the Maldives. Funadhoo is a very common Maldivian place name and is derived from the Dhivehi name for the tree Calophyllum inophyllum (or Funa) which grows on the shores of some islands. It is the administrative capital of Shaviyani Atoll. (Full article...)

List of selected islands
Malé Hulhumalé Fuvahmulah Hulhumeedhoo Hulhulé Island Maafushi (Kaafu Atoll) Hanimaadhoo (Haa Dhaalu Atoll) Gan (Addu Atoll) Milandhoo Gaafaru Gulhi Huraa (Kaafu Atoll) Vilimalé Thulusdhoo Hithadhoo (Addu)