The Republic of Maldives is a tiny island nation located in the Indian Ocean approximately 700 miles southwest of Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka is an island off the southeastern tip of India). The Maldives have been inhabited since 300BC and are comprised of nearly 1200 isles. Today two hundred of those islands are inhabited, while another eighty of them are used as tourist resorts. One-third of the population lives on the same island in the capital city of Malé. The Republic of Maldives is one of the least populated countries in Asia, with a total population of almost 400,000. The Maldives is also one of the lowest countries on earth; the highest point is only seven feet above sea level. This, of course, can be problematic. The country was hit especially hard by the 2004 tsunami when waves reached fourteen feet high. You can find out more about another related concern by reading the article at this address: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8312320.stm
Post a comment related to the BBC’s article about Maldives by class next Wednesday (October 28th).
