中国侦察攻击直升机:我想求问马尔代夫的英语介绍？sos！！！

The Maldives

The Republic of Maldives is a small nation of around 370,000 people. The country comprises some 1192 tiny islands stretched out across the equator in a vertical strip, of which 200 are inhabited today. Traditionally a fishing and trading people, the Maldivians have a history, culture and language all of their own.

The idea of developing Maldives' unspoilt, palm-fringed tropical islands with dazzling white beaches and brilliant turquoise lagoons as a tourist destination, began in 1972. Eighty Seven resorts of various standards and tastes have since been built, each on its own uninhabited island and surrounded by one of the best preserved marine environments anywhere in the world.

Tourism development is very well planned and regulated with great attention paid to its sensitive nature. The environmental policy of ecological sustainable tourism development is regarded as an example to the world. As a result, the tourism industry has been enormously successful.

Recent years have been characterized by modernization and a very high rate of economic growth, most notably in Male, the capital city which is fully open to visitors. Some island communities close to tourist resorts are accessible for short visits. Resort islands, specially built for tourists, are all-inclusive, each coming as a self-sufficient entity in terms of facilities offered and the abounding natural beauty. A few hotels and guest houses are available in Male.

History

The existence of the Maldives was well known from around 2000 BC as it was situated in the then trading routes of several ancient maritimers such as Egyptians, Romans, Mesopotamians and Indus Valley traders. The people of this time who lived in the Maldives were known as Redin - a legendary sun-worshipping people.

The second wave of settlers probably arrived from Sri Lanka and southern India around 500 BC and were Buddhists. Conversion to Islam took place in the mid-12th century under the influence of Arab traders and the country has remained Muslim ever since.

In the sixteenth century, there was a short occupation by the Portuguese. When the British took possession of Ceylon in 1796, the Maldives maintained good relations with them, although, neither the Dutch nor the British established a colonial administration. When Ceylon gained independence in 1948, a defence pact was signed which gave the British control of foreign affairs but not the right to interfere internally, and also facilities on Gan Island, Addu Atoll in the south of the country, for the British forces to defend the islands and the Commonwealth. In 1965, when the Maldives became a member of the United Nations and Britain ceased to be responsible for their defence, Britain recognized the islands as a completely sovereign and independent state.

Geography

(Images by Robert Simmon, NASA GSFC)

The Maldives is a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean about 417 mi (671 km) southwest of Sri Lanka. Its 1,190 coral islets stretch over an area of 35,200 square mi (90,000 sq km).

Charles Darwin was the first to put forward the theory that atolls can develop from coral growth that has built up around the edges of a submerged volcanic peak.

Corals begin to settle and grow around an oceanic island forming a fringing reef. It can take as long as 10,000 years for a fringing reef to form. Over the next 100,000 years, if conditions are favorable, the reef continues to expand. As the reef expands, the interior island usually begins to subside and the fringing reef turns into a barrier reef. When the island completely subsides beneath the water leaving a ring of growing coral with an open lagoon in its center, it is called an atoll. The process of atoll formation may take as long as 30,000,000 years to occur.

The Maldives is part of a submerged volcanic mountain range which extends from the Lakshadweep Islands near India to well south of the equator.

Entry into the Maldives

Most visitors to the Maldives travel by air. On arrival at Male International Airport, visitors receive a one month tourist visa free of charge. All visitors arriving from a yellow fever infested area require a certificate of inoculation. (Note: It is illegal for visitors to bring in any illicit drugs, alcohol, pornography, pork, firearm and dangerous animals).

Main attractions

A very friendly and hospitable people;
Blue skies all year round, except in June, July and October when it can get a bit soggy;
An easy-going simple lifestyle;
Crystal clear waters in azure lagoons;
Snow-white beaches of coral sand;
Breathtaking underwater beauty with colourful corals and exotic marine life;

The combination of all these and more makes the Maldives a unique destination for tourists.