The Maldives is a beautiful and popular destination for holidaymakers in South Asia but is it made up of a man-made archipelago?
While some islands found in the Maldives are man-made, they make up a minority, and most of the one thousand-or so islands are naturally-occurring. One of the most prominent artificial islands is Huhulmale, created on a foundation of concrete and dumped sand.
Read on to learn more about the Maldives, how the region was formed, and why it’s so popular.
Making The Maldives
It’s thought that the Maldives was first discovered by ancient explorers more than two thousand years ago. It was likely an accidental discovery, given that the Maldives is a collection of minuscule islands located some four hundred miles from the coast of South Asia.
If you look at the Maldives on a map, you’ll notice how you need to zoom in extremely far to even identify anything. That’s because the Maldives is made up of more than one thousand tiny islands and atolls, a collection known as an archipelago.
Despite its almost undetectable overall size, the Maldives is one of the most popular destinations on Earth for an exotic vacation. It has been the home of countless resorts, hotels, and luxurious spa locations for decades, with tourists arriving from all around the planet to experience its beauty.
The entire region boasts a humid and tropical climate, with temperatures sitting as high as 88-Fahrenheit all year round. However, owing to its location in the middle of a tropical monsoon area, it also experiences a considerable amount of rainfall, particularly in the summer months.
Regardless, it still remains an extremely popular location for the visitors who flock there to enjoy the scorching sun, sparkling sea, and sumptuous sands. There’s a fantastic amount of things to do there, and you can island hop at a moment’s notice.
While the majority of the one thousand-or so islands were naturally formed, there are a few that are artificial, or man-made. For example, the island of Huhulmale, located near the Maldives’ main airport, is entirely artificial, having been built in 2004 from concrete and sand foundations.
Today, Huhulmale is an established town, complete with roads, shops, and residential areas – but it started out as absolutely nothing, not even a single spit of sand. It’s a fine example of one of the more populated areas in the Maldives, where countless islands otherwise sit uninhabited.
Welcome To The Maldives
The luxurious setting, sumptuous accommodation, and of course, the exclusivity of the Maldives all make the region a playground for the rich and famous. There are some islands that hold legendary status among the world’s elite, such as Reethi Rah, undoubtedly the finest choice for the wealthiest among us.
This mega-resort boasts a capacity of more than one hundred and thirty rooms, all of which are as luxurious as you could possibly imagine. There’s a personal butler assigned to each room, and the resort comes equipped with a gym, tennis courts, and twelve private beaches.
It’s said that there are more than eight hundred employees working on and around the island, meaning there’s always someone to tend to your every need. Reportedly, celebrities like David Beckham, Milla Jovovich, Tom Cruise, and Gordon Ramsay all favor this remarkable resort.
However, if you’d like to stay at Reethi Rah, you’ll need to have a substantially large bank account. The finest residence on the island costs around two hundred thousand dollars for a single week.
Although, it’s likely the finest location you’ll ever visit for a vacation, coming equipped with extra-large beds, an enormous private beach, and a twenty-four-hour private chef. There’s also a private pool, advanced security systems, and more luxury than you could possibly consume in a week.
While it might sound remarkable, there are many locations across the Maldives that resemble this one. However, it isn’t set to last forever, if you follow the advice laid out by the United Nations’ environmental panel.
They estimate that the Maldives will be made uninhabitable by 2100, owing to the rapidly-rising sea levels. Unfortunately, the Maldives, while beautiful, is the lowest country in the world, and is dramatically susceptible to poor weather and the onslaught of the ocean.
If you’re going to enjoy the Maldives, you’d better do it soon, before the ocean starts to reclaim the islands, one by one. It’s a horrible truth to realize, but all the wealth in the world won’t be able to save the Maldives once the sea-level starts rising.