Maldives

islands · tropical · Indian Ocean · atolls

26 Amazing Atolls. The Maldives isn't just one or two islands, it's actually 26 atolls (ring-shaped coral islands) stretched out across the Indian Ocean. They stretch so far that they cross right over the equator.

Close to Asia. The Maldives is located in South Asia, southwest of India and Sri Lanka, but it's about 750 kilometers away from the Asian mainland. This makes it a unique island nation in the Indian Ocean.

In the Indian Ocean. This tropical country sits in the Indian Ocean near where the Arabian Sea begins. The warm waters and tropical climate make it a special place in South Asia.

Stretches Across the Equator. The chain of atolls is so spread out that it actually crosses over the equator, with Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north and Addu Atoll in the south. This makes the Maldives an unusual country that spans both hemispheres.