GEOGRAPHY
The atolls of the Maldives form the central part of a great underwater mountain range stretching for over 2000 km from the Laccadives Islands, in the north, to the Chagos Islands, in the South. The Maldives cover an area of 90,000 sq. km and lie between Latitude 7º 6’ 30” N to 0º 42’ 30” S, and Longitude 72º 32’ 30” E to 73º 46’ 15” E. Estimates of the number of islands differs, depending on the definition of an island. Officially there are 1190 islands having “some form of vegetation on them, whether grass or bushes or trees”. Of this number 991 are uninhabited and 199 inhabited (Statistical Year Book of Maldives 1994). Unofficially there are 1120 islands, but the actual number varies from one year to the next as islands are continually being washed away and new ones formed. The islands are divided into 26 geographic atolls. Minicoy is the 27th atoll but it was linked to India in 1753 during the time of Sultan al Mukarram Mohamed Imadudeen III (1750 – 1757 AD). For convenience, these atolls are divided into 19 administrative groups and named according to the letters of the Maldivian alphabet. In the resort atolls, Felidhoo Atoll is now referred to as Vaavu, Ari Atoll as Alifu, Male Atoll as Kaafu, Faadhippolhu Atoll as Lhaviyani, South Maalhosmadulu Atoll as Baa and Addoo Atoll as Seenu.