Facts about Maldives atolls
- 10
Villagers in Maldives atolls traditionally harvested coconut palm toddy, a fermented beverage, as a primary source of calories and income before modern tourism development transformed the economy.
- 09
Forty-three percent of Maldives atolls' land area consists of human-made reclaimed islands constructed since the 1980s to accommodate population growth and development.
- 08
Each atoll in Maldives contains a lagoon with depths reaching 40 meters, creating natural harbors protected by surrounding coral reef walls.
- 07
Tourism generates approximately 60 percent of Maldives atolls' GDP, with over 1.7 million visitors arriving annually to the island nation.
- 06
Maldives atolls experience a southwest monsoon from May to September that brings heavy rainfall averaging 2,400 millimeters annually to the archipelago.
- 05
Between 1998 and 2016, rising ocean temperatures caused severe coral bleaching events that damaged approximately 60 percent of Maldives atolls' reef ecosystems.
- 04
Coral reefs surrounding Maldives atolls support over 2,000 fish species and provide critical protection against ocean swells and storm surge for island communities.
- 03
Male, the capital city of Maldives atolls, occupies just 5.8 square kilometers and houses approximately 103,000 residents as of recent counts.
- 02
Approximately 200 of the 26 atolls in Maldives are inhabited, while the remaining islands serve as uninhabited nature reserves and resort destinations.
- 01
The 1,190 coral islands comprising Maldives atolls have an average elevation of just 1.5 meters above sea level.