THE MALDIVES
The Maldives consists of approximately 1,190 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls. The atolls are composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, situated atop a submarine ridge 960 kilometres long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs from north to south.
The Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 metres with the average being only 1.5 metres above sea level, although in areas where construction exists, this has been increased to several metres. More than 80 per cent of the country's land, composed of coral islands scattered over an area about 850 km across the equator, is less than one metre above sea level
The reef is composed of coral debris and living coral. This acts as a natural barrier against the sea, forming lagoons. The barrier reefs of the islands protect them from the storms and high waves of the Indian Ocean
A layer of humus 15 centimetres thick forms the top layer of soil on the islands. Below the humus layer are 60 centimetres of sandstone, followed by sand and then fresh water. In the interior of the island, more vegetation such as mangrove and banyan grow. Coconut palms, the national tree, are able to grow almost everywhere on the islands and are integral to the lifestyle of the population
The limited vegetation and land wildlife is supplemented by the abundance of marine life. The waters around the Maldives are abundant in rare species of biological and commercial value, with tuna fisheries being traditionally one of the main commercial resources of the country. The Maldives have an amazing diversity of sea life, with corals and over 2,000 species of fish, ranging from reef fish to reef sharks, moray eels, and a wide variety of rays: Manta rays; Stingray; and Eagle ray. The Maldivian waters are also home for the whale shark
Climate
The Indian Ocean has a great effect on the climate of the country by acting as a heat buffer, absorbing, storing, and slowly releasing the tropical heat. The temperature of Maldives ranges between 24 °C and 33 °C throughout the year. Two seasons dominate Maldives' weather: the dry season associated with the winter northeastern monsoon and the rainy season, from the end of April to the end of October, which brings strong winds and storms. The shift from the moist southwest monsoon to the dry northeast monsoon occurs during October and November
Environmental Issues
Over the last century, sea levels have risen about 20 centimetres further rises of the ocean could threaten the existence of Maldives, being the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 metres, with the average being only 1.5 metres above sea .In November 2008, President Mohamed Nasheed announced plans to look into purchasing new land in India, Sri Lanka, and Australia because of his concerns about global warming and the possibility of much of the islands being inundated with water from rising sea levels. The purchase of land will be made from a fund generated by tourism. The President has explained his intentions:
"We do not want to leave the Maldives, but we also do not want to be climate refugees living in tents for decades".A tsunami in the Indian Ocean caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake caused serious damage to the socioeconomic infrastructure, which left many people homeless, and irreversible damage to the environment. After the disaster, cartographers are planning to redraw the maps of the islands due to alterations caused by the tsunami
On 22 April 2008, then Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom pleaded for a cut in global greenhouse gas emissions, warning that rising sea levels could submerge the island nation of Maldives.
From Wikipedia
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NB1A/B
I´m sorry I came to class one hour late because the roads were blocked and I was stranded.
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