The Maldivian Archipelago is located on the Chagos–Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean this also forms a terrestrial ecoregion, together with the Chagos Archipelago and Lakshadweep. Malé is the capital and the most populated city, traditionally called the 'King's Island' where the ancient royal dynasties ruled for its central location. The Maldives' chain of 26 atolls stretches across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south.Ĭomprising a territory spanning roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi) including the sea, land area of all the islands comprises 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi), the Maldives is one of the world's most geographically dispersed sovereign states and the smallest Asian country as well as one of the smallest Muslim-majority countries by land area and, with around 557,751 inhabitants, the 2nd least populous country in Asia. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometres (470 miles 400 nautical miles) from the Asian continent's mainland. The Maldives ( / ˈ m ɔː l d iː v z/ Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, romanized: Dhivehi Raajje, Dhivehi pronunciation: ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, Dhivehi pronunciation: ), is an archipelagic state and country in South Asia, situated in the Indian Ocean. United States dollar ( USD, used in Maldivian resort islands).

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