It consists of approximately 1,190 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers, making this one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world.

[citation needed] Composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, the atolls are situated atop a submarine ridge, 960 km (600 mi) long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs from north to south.

[1] Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives.

On the other hand, uninhabited islands have mostly different kinds of bushes (magū, boshi) and mangroves (kuredi, kandū) along the waterline as well as some coconut trees.

[citation needed] Often the soil is highly alkaline, and a deficiency in nitrogen, potash, and iron severely limits agricultural potential.

[1] Because the Maldives is the lowest country anywhere in the world, with the highest elevation in the island nation being slightly less than 8 feet, the temperature is constantly high and rarely falls below 25 °C (77 °F), even at night.

[1] Scientists also cite other factors in the formation of monsoons, including the barrier of the Himalayas on the northern fringe of the South Asia and the sun's northward tilt, which shifts the jet stream north.

[1] The hot air that rises over the South Asia during April and May creates low-pressure areas into which the cooler, moisture-bearing winds from the Indian Ocean flow.

[1] Area: total: 298 square kilometres (115.1 square miles) land: 298 km2 water: 0 km2 Coastline: 644 kilometres (400 mi) Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22.2 kilometres; 13.8 miles) contiguous zone: 24 nmi (44.4 km; 27.6 mi) exclusive economic zone: 923,322 km2 (356,497 sq mi; 269,198 sq nmi) Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Vilingili Island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 metres (7.9 ft) [The Maldives constitute the flattest country, i.e. they have the lowest high-point, of any country in the world).

[14] Environment – current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies, global warming and sea level rise, coral reef bleaching[11] Environment – international agreements: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution[11]