Introduction
Male is the capital of Maldives, a nation made up of about 1,200 small islands in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sri Lanka. The city occupies all of Male Island, which is situated near the center of the island chain. Male is the country's largest island—despite being only about 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers) in area.
Places of interest
As the seat of government for the Maldivians, Male is home to the central courts, a government hospital, and government schools. The largest of the city's many mosques is called the Grand Friday Mosque, which is part of a modern Islamic Center. The mosque's gold-domed tower dominates the city skyline. The town's oldest mosque, called the Huruku Miski, was built in 1656 and is known for its intricate wood carvings. The National Museum houses important relics of the sultans—Islamic rulers—of the Maldives.
Economy
Maldives is an underdeveloped country. Fishing and the building and repairing of boats are the major industries. The city's chief products are fish, coconuts, breadfruit, and woven palm mats. Male is a trade and tourist center and is connected with Sri Lanka and India by steamship lines. There is an international airport on a nearby island.
History
The Maldives were first settled from Sri Lanka and southern India in about 500 BC. The people adopted Islam in about AD 1153. Male has long been the main settlement. The Portuguese and other European powers controlled the islands for many years. When the islands achieved complete independence from Britain in 1965, Male became the capital of the new nation. In November 1988, invaders from Sri Lanka entered the city and tried to overthrow the government. When troops from nearby India arrived to put down the rebellion, the gunmen took hostages and fled the island in stolen boats. The drama ended when the gunmen surrendered to the Indian navy. Population (2000 census), 74,069.
