Maldives: Political System
According to EQUZHOU.NET, the Maldives are an Islamic republic. At the head of the state is a president who is directly elected by the people every five years. You can be re-elected as often as you like. The parliament consists of 42 members representing the atolls and eight members appointed by the President. The representatives of the atolls are elected in a secret ballot on the islands by Maldivian citizens. See AbbreviationFinder for more information about Maldives politics, and acronyms as well. The official name of the country is:
| Republic of Maldives |
National anthem
The national anthem of the Maldives was written by Mohamed Jameel Didi in 1948 and set to music by Wannakuwattawaduge Don Amaradeva in 1972.
| Text in Divehi (Latinized) | In the English translation |
| Gaumee mi ekuverikan matii tibegen kuriime salaam,Gaumii bahun gina heyo du’aa kuramun kureme salaam.
Gaumee nishaanang hurumataa ekuboo lambai tibegen Audaanakan libigen e vaa didaak kuriime salaam.Nasraa nasiibaa kaamyaabu-ge ramzakang himenee Fessaa rataai hudaa ekii fenumun kuriime salaam. Fakhraa sharaf gavmang e hoodai devvi batalun Zikraage mativerun lhentakun adugai kuriime salaam.Dhivehiinge ummay kuri arai silmaa salaamatugai Dhivehiinge nan mollu vun edai tibegen kuriime salaam.Minivankamaa madaniyyataa libigen mi ‘aalamugai Dinigen hitaa matakun tibun edigen kuriime salaam. Dinaai verinnang hyo hitun hurmay adaa kuramun Siidaa vafaaterikan matii tibegen kuriime salaam. Davlatuge aburaa ‘izzataa mativeri vegen abada’ Audaana vun edi heyo du’aa kuramun kuriime salaam. |
We greet you in this national unity.We greet you with many good wishes in your native language.
Bowing our heads to the national symbols. We salute the flag that has such powerIt falls into the sphere of victory, happiness and success With its green and red and white coinciding and therefore we greet you The heroes who gained honor and pride for the nation we greet today with promising verses of remembrance Should the nation of the Maldives and protection and guard flourish And the name of the Maldives grow bigWe wish for freedom and progress in this world and freedom from worries and therefore we greet our religion and our leaders with full respect and blessings from the bottom of our hearts.We greet sincerely and truthfully May the state always have promising honor and respect With good wishes for yours continuing power, we greet you |
National flag
The national flag (country flag) of the Maldives was officially introduced on July 26, 1965. Based on flag descriptions by Countryaah.com, the three colors of the flag are interpreted as follows:
– Red symbolizes the blood that was sacrificed for freedom
– Green stands for peace and progress and is also the color of Muhammad
– The white crescent stands for Islam
- Check top-mba-universities for public holidays, sports events, UNESCO world heritage sites and major places to visit in Maldives.
Maldives: Known People
Politicians and rulers
- Amir Ibrahim Nasir (born 1926) was President of the Maldives from 1968 to 1978.
- Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (born 1937) was President of the Maldives
- Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom Yameen (born 1959) was President of the Maldives from November 17, 2013 to November 16, 2018
- Ibrahim Mohamed (Ibu) Solih (born 1964) has been President of the Maldives since November 17, 2018
Others
Muhammad Thakurufaanu (1573-1585), folk hero of the Maldivians.
Maldives: animals
Mammals
The only native mammal is the nocturnal Maldivian fruit bat. At night you can see them fly by again and again, while during the day they hang upside down in the trees. Other mammals such as rats and mice have come to the islands on the ships.
Reptiles
The most common and also the most useful reptile in the Maldives is the Asian house gecko, which likes to sneak into rooms at night. Since it is completely harmless and also a very effective insect killer, it is best to leave it where it is.
However, much more beautiful to look at is the most lying in the sun, to cm to 40 large beautiful lizard. The yellow-brown colored lizard feeds on insects, so that its name as a bloodsucking dragon is rather surprising. One of the reasons for this unusual name could be the fact that the throat and belly of the males turn a bright red during the mating season or during other arousal.
Snakes (not poisonous)
The wolf tooth snake is quite common in the Maldives, but there is no need to be afraid of it as it is completely harmless. A second snake found here is a subspecies of the common blind snake.
Poisonous animals
Most of the poisonous creatures are found in water. Stonefish live here which are very difficult to spot due to their excellent camouflage. They are littered with spines, the back spines contain a neurotoxin, which is very toxic. If you step on the fish, the poison is injected into the body. This leads to nerve paralysis with water formation under the skin, cardiac arrhythmias up to cardiac arrest, peripheral vasodilatation and often to respiratory arrest. There are several cases where encountering a stonefish has resulted in death. As a first aid measure you should remove the sting, clean the wound and then immerse the injured area in hot water. This method has proven itself as it has a pain-relieving effect and prevents or inhibits the spread of the poison.
The lionfish , which also belongs to the scorpion fish family, carries its poison in the fin rays, especially in those of the dorsal fin. Contact with these rays can even be fatal for humans.
Direct skin contact with sea cucumbers leads to local pain and swelling, less often to paralysis and cramps. If you come into contact with Curvier’s organs, which the animals extend to protect them from attackers, the toxins they contain lead to nausea and vomiting. Paralysis occurs very rarely.
Cone snails are animals whose dangerousness should not be underestimated. They have barbed poison arrows that can also pierce clothing. The neurotoxin contained in the arrows of some species can lead to death, similar to the stonefish. The cone snails live mainly in the mud and on sandbanks and feed on worms, mollusks and other marine organisms. Only fish-hunting species and some of the species that hunt invertebrates can be dangerous to humans. Nevertheless, it is not advisable to pick up the beautifully drawn snail shells, as the residents quickly defend themselves with arrow shots. The cone snails are common throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Birds
Various species of heron will be encountered on most of the islands, the most common of which is the gray heron. The best way to hear is the black and white speckled Indian Koel (a type of cuckoo) and the shiny crow is by far the most common and cheeky bird in the Maldives.
As is usually the case on islands, seabirds such as seagulls and terns as well as migratory birds such as hawks and buzzards are also numerous in the Maldives.
A rare sight, however, is the fairy tern that has settled on Seenu-Atull. The protected bird species include the whimbrel, numerous plover species, the masked booby, the red-footed booby and the Indian koel.
Insects, spiders
The paper wasp is very common, but butterflies and especially mosquitoes also follow you at every turn. Cockroaches are constant guests in the rooms, the large roller spider, on the other hand, avoids human proximity and is therefore rarely to be found.
Underwater world
Although the fauna underwater is much more diverse than that on land, it is still endangered. This is especially true for the coral reefs, whereby the hard corals are responsible for the structure of the islands. They are very sensitive creatures that react to the slightest changes in their environment, be it the water temperature or mechanical vibrations, such as those caused by divers, by dying. It is therefore of enormous importance for the survival of the islands that the corals are protected in their existence. In addition, corals form the habitat for numerous fish species such as the doctor fish, blue-stripe snapper, trigger fish, parrot and butterfly fish as well as the colorful angelfish and cleaner fish.
The seabed near the coast is populated by the cylindrical sea cucumbers, which feed on plankton and sediment (e.g. algae), filter the mud and water in search of food and are therefore considered the vacuum cleaners of the sea. The tube eels have also chosen the seabed as their habitat. They stand swaying in the sand and filter the plankton from the water. With every disturbance, no matter how small, they immediately withdraw into their sand tubes.
Reef and nurse sharks are common, and rays are not uncommon in Maldivian waters. Whale sharks, on the other hand, are very rare and appear every time you are lucky enough to encounter them. Occasionally green turtles and hawksbill turtles also float through the water.
On the beaches one comes across small hermit crabs looking for a new home (an empty shell of sea snails). The abdomen of the small crabs is so soft that it has to be protected by the housing. If the hermit crab grows, a new home has to be looked for again and again. Its survival depends on the availability of enough housing. Therefore, tourists are repeatedly asked not to take any snail shells home as a souvenir, no matter how beautiful they may look, as they rob the hermit crab of its apartment.
Maldives: plants
Overall, the flora of the Maldives can be described as poor in species. Of the 250 or so wild species, at least they are indigenous.
Trees
The most common and found on all islands are the mostly wild coconut palms and the panda nut trees, of which there are five endemic (only occurring here) species in the Maldives. In German they are known as “screw palm”, which describes the arrangement of their leaves. On the lower part of the trunk, the trees form strong aerial roots, which gives the impression that the tree is standing on stilts.
The pines and almond trees that occasionally grow near the coast are a much rarer sight.
The also widespread banyan trees, also known as strangler fig or Bengal fig, are considered a botanical specialty and are among the largest living organisms in the world. The banyan tree is a hemiepiphyte, which means that the rhizome (rhizome) of this plant rises up on tree trunks, but roots in the ground. By being anchored in the ground, the plant is supplied with nutrients and the aerial roots become thicker and lignified. Over time, they develop into trunks, some of which are enormous in diameter. When the roots touch, they fuse, creating a dense network around the host tree. In this way, its main vessels are pinched off and it dies. Banyan trees are fast-growing and can reach a size of over 30 m. What is more impressive, however, is its scope. The largest banyan tree has a diameter of 300 m and is in Colcata (Calcutta). The tree is sacred to many peoples because it is regarded as the seat of spirits.
Other plants
The scaevola bush, which can grow up to 3 m high, is very widespread. Its leathery leaves and white flowers are characteristic.
Like the bougainvillea and the hibiscus plants, the frangipani is used to beautify gardens on the hotel islands. They come in the form of large bushes or small trees. It belongs to the dog poison family and stands out for its pink-white and intensely fragrant flowers. Their very long (up to 30 cm), pointed and dark green leaves are also striking. In Asia , the frangipani is considered a temple or sacrificial plant and is a symbol of immortality.
The grasses growing on the bank area are extremely important, as they strengthen the sandbanks with their roots and thus contribute to the preservation of the islands.
Crops
The most important crops include the fruit of the breadfruit tree, papayas, bananas and of course coconuts. Coconut oil is extracted from the dried coconut meat.
But millet, sweet potatoes, yams and cassava are also grown. The latter is also known under the names cassava and bread root. It belongs to the milkweed family, grows up to 3 m high, has a bushy habit and greenish-yellow flowers. The starchy, up to 8 cm thick and up to 90 cm long tubers are used. All parts of the plant contain a toxin that is destroyed by washing out and exposure to heat. This makes the cassava palatable.
The mango is one of the rare useful plants, and citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons are only found on the island of Fua Mulak, as only here are the soil conditions sufficient for the demanding plants.
The wood of the widespread scaevola bushes is used as firewood.
Medicinal plants
The beggar nuts, the fruits of the betel palm, are said to have a slightly intoxicating, stimulating and euphoric effect. They also stimulate the flow of saliva, have a laxative and diuretic effect and are supposed to suppress the feeling of hunger.
The noni tree, also known as the Indian mulberry, is of great importance. It is one of the most important and oldest medicinal plants in the medical history of the oceanic peoples.
Kura is an evergreen shrub belonging to the madder family, which can reach an average height of 4.5 to 6 m. But there are also smaller and larger shrubs. Its fruits also vary in size, but on average they are the size of a medium-sized potato. All parts of the plant are used, whereby a powder is made from the roots and the bark, which is used for fever, intestinal diseases and poisoning. In principle, this plant is a panacea, but it is particularly used as a pain reliever for rheumatic attacks, neuralgia, stomach cramps, painful inflammations and itchy skin diseases.
Poisonous plants
Caution is advised with the frangipani, as it contains a toxic milky juice.
Introduced plants
The breadfruit tree imported from India is one of the numerous plants introduced. This has a bulky habit and large leaves up to half a meter long, as well as fruit clusters weighing up to 5 kg. The elongated, round breadfruit of the tree has a green, prickly skin and grows 2 m high. In Europe it is cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
The banyan tree also originally comes from India. The Noni tree came to the Maldives from Southeast Asia .
