Geography & Climate

Geography

The Maldives is a chain of 26 coral atolls southwest of Sri Lanka, extending across the equator in a north-south strip 754km (468mi) long and 118km (73mi) wide. The 1192 low-lying coral islands are so small that dry land makes up less than 4% of the country's total territory. Some islands are uninhabited sandbars with a patch of scrub, while others are several kilometers across and quite well vegetated.

Climate

The Climate of the Maldives is warm year round, determined by the monsoons. The temperature of Maldives ranges between 26°C/79F and 33°C/90F throughout the year. Although the humidity is relatively high, the constant sea breezes help to keep the air moving. Water temperatures remain about 26°C/80F year-round.