Maldives
The Maldives is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 500 km south-west of India. It comprises 1,190 islands, 202 of which are inhabited. The capital, Male, is home to more than a quarter of the population. The equatorial climate brings average temperatures of 27 °C and annual rainfall of 2,130 mm. The best time to visit is the dry season from November to April. The Maldives, a Muslim republic, uses the Thaana script. The archipelago is threatened by flooding because it lies so low above sea level.
