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The Maldives were first settled in the 5th century B.C.by Buddhist seafarers from India and Sri Lanka. According to tradition, Islam was adopted in 1153. Originally, the islands were under the Control of Sri Lanka. They came under British protection in 1887 and were a dependency of Sri Lanka until 1948. An independence agreement with Britain was signed July 26, 1965. For centuries a sultanate, the islands adopted a republican form of government in 1952, but the sultanate was restored in 1954. In 1968, however, as the result of a referendum, a republic was again established in the recently independent country. Ibrahim Nasir, the authoritarian president since 1968, was removed from office and replaced by the more progressive Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 1978. Gayoom was elected to a sixth five-year term in 2003. They are now lead by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, elected in 2018.

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Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa
Gross domestic product: 4.597 billion USD (2017)

GDP per capita: 10,535.79 USD (2017)

GNI per capita: 15,350 PPP dollars (2017)

GDP growth rate: 8.8% annual change (2017)

Gross national income: 6.699 billion PPP dollars (2017)

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An example of the Dhivehi language:

"अरे मेरा नाम मैकेंज़ी है” or “are mera naam Maikenzee hai”
This means “hi my name is Mackenzie”

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The dominant religion is Islam. Laws prohibit the practice of any religion other than Islam, and the Constitution precludes non-Muslims from voting, obtaining citizenship, and holding public positions. The president, who is required to be a Sunni Muslim, is the "supreme authority to propagate the tenets of Islam."

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The population of the Maldives is mostly the Maldivian ethnic group. The official language spoken is Dhivehi, followed by Arabic, Hindi, and English.

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The Maldive Islands have high population density of 1,102 people per square kilometer, making it the 11th most densely populated country on earth. The largest city and capital in Maldives is Male, with an estimated population of 63,000. the total population of the Maldive Islands as of 2018 is 444,259.

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The Maldives is a South Asian country, located in the Indian Ocean, situated in the Arabian Sea. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India.

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3.2028 N, 73.2207 E

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The "glowing beaches" home to the Bioluminescent Phytoplankton. These plankton cause the waves and sand to glow at night just like stars. they are located on the Vaadhoo Island.

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The world's first underwater hotel located on the Rangali Island.

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One of the reasons I chose the Maldives is because of how beautiful it is. There are several different things to do and see on the island despite how small it is.