The Maldives is a group of low-lying coral islands, forming an
archipelago of 26 major atolls, situated south west of Sri Lanka. A
small percentage of the islands are inhabited and 87 are
exclusively resorts, boasting tropical landscapes hugged by
picture-perfect beaches festooned with palm trees. The myriad
islands are surrounded by coral reefs enclosing shallow
lagoons.
The Dhivehin people of the Maldives are descended from an ethnic
mix of Aryan, Negroid, Sinhalese, Dravidian and Arab cultures. The
history of the area was dominated by a succession of bids for
control that began with Muslim rule in the 12th century. The Arabs
were later supplanted by Portuguese then the British, until 1965
when the Maldives finally achieved full independence as a
sultanate. All Maldivians are Sunni Muslims and their lifestyle
follows the traditions of Islam. Traces of ancient beliefs have
endured in the form of superstitions centred on evil spirits.
