UA9CDC, UA9CTT, R9CL, R9DX will be active from Maldive Islands in CQ WW DX CW Contest 26 - 27 November 2016 as 8Q7DV.
They will be in M/? Category.
QSL via UA8DX.
Ads for direct QSL:
Serge V. Stikhin, P.O. BOX 500, Ekaterinburg, 620000, Russia.
Maldive Islands
A group of islands in the Indian Ocean, the Maldive Islands comprise of roughly 1,190 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls. Officially, they are known as the Republic of the Maldives. The islands which are composed of the island of Minicoy in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep of India and today’s Republic of Maldives stretch 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 sq mi). The atolls that make up the islands comprise of sand bars and live coral reefs. They are present on the atolls that are found atop a submarine ridge that stretches roughly 960 kilometers while abruptly rising from the depths of the Indian Ocean and running from north to south.
Located on top of the Chagos-Maldives-Laccadive Ridge, the Maldives archipelago is the smallest Asian country in both land and area population. The country’s population as of 2012 is approximately 328,536 people, of which only 192 of its 1192 islands re occupied.
Geographical aspects
The Maldive islands boast of 1,192 coral islands, which islands are grouped along the north-south direction in a double chain of 26 atolls. Gan, which belongs to Hahdhummathi Maldives or Laamu Atoll is the largest island of Maldives.
With a total road length of 14 km, the westernmost islands in the Addu Atoll are connected by roads over the reef. With natural ground levels of approximately 2.4 meters and 1.5 meters above sea level, the Maldives in addition to being the smallest and least populated country is also the lowest country in the world. A large percentage of the country’s land (80%) comprises of coral islands which rise less than one meter above sea level.
A vast majority of the atolls consist of a huge, coral reef shaped like a ring that supports a number of small islands. Much as some of the bigger atolls are approximately 30 kilometers wide from east to west and 50 kilometers long from north to south, not one island is longer than eight kilometers. Whereas there are no hills to be found on the Maldives, some of the islands boast of dunes which can stretch to 2.4 meters above sea level. Much as there are no rivers present on the Islands owing to their small size, there are a number of marshes and small lakes on some of the islands.
On average though, 5 to 10 islands are inhabited on each atoll; each atoll of the uninhabited islands number approximately 20 to 60.
Climate
The Maldives has a tropical-monsoon climate that is distinguished by two seasons, or monsoons; from May to November, the wet southwestern monsoon is experienced while from December to March, the dry northeast monsoon is experienced. The month of April is noted for clear water and heat hence being seen as a transitional period.
Remarkably, there is a consistent temperature of about 30 degrees Celsius that is experienced throughout the year. Although rare, thunderstorms are also experienced in the region more so around the southwest monsoon months.
Languages
Dhivehi, an Indo-Aryan language, is the official and common language spoken in the country. It boats of similarities the ancient Sinhalese language(Elu)
Religion
Islam is the predominant religion in the Maldives. By the mid-12th century following the long Buddhist period of Maldivian history, the country’s population converted to Island which was introduced by Muslim traders. Officially, Sunni Islam which was introduced by the Muslim leaders is the country’s religion. In fact, it is requirement for being a citizen in the country.
Culture
A combination of many cultures make the Maldives what it is today in terms of its culture. There re cultural influences brought in by the sea farers who settled in Maldives, the British influence and the Islamic religion.
With its location in-between the trading route of the Indian Ocean, the Islands of Maldives have been open to numerous cultures in terms of language, beliefs, arts, and attitudes. Different atolls may mean a difference in the looks of the Maldivian people thanks to the genes that were passed on by Africans ,South and Southeast Asians , and Arabians.
The country’s official language, Dhivehi, differs in dialect in some regions in the south of Maldives. The Maldivian people’s beliefs are heavily based around superstition and religion, and although Islam dominates in terms of faith, supernatural influence still plays a huge role on a number of the Islands’ communities.
The blend in cultures can be seen on the arts produced, the music played and the architecture to the islands.
Interesting facts about the Maldive Islands
- The Maldives is the lowest country in the world with its highest point standing at 2.3 meters (7 feet 7 inches) and its lowest point averaging at 1.5 meters (4 feet 11 inches).
- In 2009, in a bid to raise awareness on climate change, an underwater cabinet meeting was held, making it the first country in the world to do so.
- The Maldives is 99% water.
- The Maldives functional literacy rate stands at an impressive 98%.
- The Maldives flag holds only symbolic elements- the green section represents palm trees ,the crescent moon stands for Islam, and the red background symbolizes the bloodshed by Maldivian heroes.
- Being a Muslim country, casual but modest clothing is called for in the Maldives.
- Owing to the island resorts’ isolation, the Maldives is one of the safest travel destinations on the planet.
- The word atoll is the only English word that is derived from Divehi. It comes from the Divehi word atholhu, which means a ring-like coral island surrounding a lagoon.
- Weekends in the Maldives much like other Muslim countries occur on Friday and Saturday.
- The Maldives is the smallest country in Asia and the smallest Muslim country in the world.
- Ethnic groups to the Maldives are the Sinhalese, South Indians and Arabs
- No alcohol is allowed outside the resorts.
- The Maldives is known for its religious intolerance with jail-time awaiting those that go against the religious sensitivities of the Maldives.