The first settlers came from South India and Sri Lanka, with the Arabs reaching the Maldives in the twelfth century. The Arabs were followed by the Europeans in the sixteenth century, led by the Portuguese, Dutch, French and finally the British. The Maldives became a British Protectorate in 1887, till its independence in 1965.
Maldives has a rich and vibrant cultural heritage. A highly religious society, Islam is a way of life in the Maldives, and yet influences from the Indian subcontinent and early British rule continue to contribute to the colour of the Maldives. Family, religion and the sea are the three pillars of the Maldivian community; a great source of inspiration for the local arts and folklore.
Maldives is situated in the Indian Ocean, south-west of Sri Lanka and India. The Maldives archipelago consists of at least 1,190 coral islets, spread over 26 atolls. Of these only about 200 islands are inhabited. The sea covers over 99% of Maldives, with land accounting for only 0.33% of the territory.
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