Photos

Mulee-Aage Palace in Male was built in 1906 by Sultan Shamsuddeen III as a home for his son. In 1936, the sultan was banished and the building became the new government's property. In 1986, the building was named the president's official residence. Today there is a new official residence and Mulee-Aage serves as the president's office. It is noted for its exquisite white carvings.

The Royal Graveyard in Male is near the Grand Friday Mosque and contains the tombs of the country's heroes and members of royalty.

Jumhoorie Maidan (Republic Square) was set up in 1989 on the waterfront of Male, the capital and largest city in the Maldives. Male, sometimes known as King's Island, was the royal seat for the former rulers of the Maldives. The Maldives consist of 1,190 coral islands averaging only 1.5 m above sea level. Once Buddhist, the Maldives are now predominately Muslim.

A view of the Male waterfront. The capital city's harbor is enclosed by an artificial coral stone breakwater.

Grand Friday Mosque in Male was built in 1656 by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar. It is the largest mosque in the Maldives and includes an Islamic Center.

A mosque with its minaret in Male.

Male bike park with minaret in the background.

Looking out onto lagoon waters from a palm-shaded beach.

An inviting beach at a resort near Male.

A view over the Indian Ocean as seen from the space shuttle. The bottom portion of the photo shows the complete chain of the atolls that form the Maldive Islands. Off to the left are the southern portion of India, the Palk Strait, and the island of Sri Lanka. Image courtesy of NASA.

All but the southernmost of the Maldives many atolls, Addu Atoll, is visible in this 2006 space-based image. Photo courtesy of NASA.

This south-looking, low-oblique photograph shows (from north to south) the Ari, Male, Felidu, Nilande, Mulaku, and Kolumadulu Atolls of the Maldives. The 26 atolls of the Maldives are composed of 1,190 small coral islands. The island chain extends north-south for approximately 880 km (550 mi). The Maldives are the exposed top of a long, narrow submarine ridge whose average height is 1 to 2 m (3 to 6 ft) above sea level. Most of the atolls have spacious, deep-water lagoons suitable for ship anchorage. Image courtesy of NASA.