Jeddah (UNA) - One of God's paradises on earth, it is an icon of beauty and tourism in the heart of the Indian Ocean. All eyes seeking beauty aspire to it, and all hearts seeking relaxation from the fatigue of life head to it to land in this unique world of clear waters, lavish green islands, and hospitable people. It is the Maldives, a destination for beauty lovers, and one of the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation since 1976, which celebrates tomorrow, Thursday, July 26, its Independence Day, which it gained through the struggle of its people and preserved in peace and reassurance with balanced relations with the countries of the world. The Maldives is a group of islands that includes approximately 1.190 coral islands gathered in a double chain of 26 coral islands. It is located in the continent of Asia in the Indian Ocean, and the equator passes through it to the south. The Arabs used to call it Dhiba al-Mahal or Mohaldeeb, and it is likely that it has been distorted and became pronounced Maldives. Britain ruled the Maldives for 78 years as a British protectorate, and the Maldives became independent in 1965 AD, and its name in the official language is Devi Raji (Republic of the Maldives), and its capital is Mali, and the Maldives is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, where it joined in 1982 AD. Comparative studies in linguistics, customs and traditions in the Maldives indicate that the first settlers of the Dravidian dynasty descended from Kerala in the Sangam period (300 BC - 300 AD), and these studies suggest that these settlers are only hunters who came from the south of the Indian subcontinent and the western coasts to Sri Lanka. The Giravaru people - who are of Tamil descent - are considered one of the first settlers in the Maldives, as their presence was mentioned in Maldivian folklore and their establishment of royal rule in Male'. The sea voyages of the people of Kerala also led to the settlement of Tamils in both Lakshdeep and the Maldives until these islands were considered as one group in the archipelago. These voyages also led to the influence of the Maldivian population on the Tamil and Malayalam languages, and this influence appears in place names, poetry and dance. Some argue that settlers from Gujarat formed the main class of migration to the Maldives, as sea voyages from Gujarat to the Maldives began during the Indus Valley Civilization. Some studies also indicate that some of the first immigrants may have come from Southeast Asia. The Sinhalese, led by Prince Vijaya, came to the Maldives in the period between 543 BC to 483 BC after they were forced to leave their original home in Orissa. The introduction of Islam is mentioned in decrees written on copper plates starting at the end of the 12th century. The famous Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta, who visited the Maldives in the 14th century, wrote that a Moroccan named Abu Barakat al-Barbari believed he was responsible for spreading Islam to the islands, although what he said was questioned in later sources. He mentioned some crucial aspects of Maldivian culture. For example, historically Arabic was the main language of administration there, rather than the Persian and Urdu languages used in neighboring Muslim countries. On December 16, 1887, the Sultan of the Maldives signed a contract with the British governor of Ceylon converting the Maldives into a British protectorate, thus relinquishing sovereignty over the islands in matters of foreign policy, but retaining internal autonomy. The British government promised military protection and non-interference in the local administration in return for an annual tribute, so that the islands were more akin to an Indian princely state. Among the most important cities in the Maldives is the city of Mali, the capital, and it is the largest city, the capital of the country, and the main port. It occupies a small area, but it is unique and attractive, and resembles large cities because of its cleanliness, arrangement, and order. Mosques and markets abound, interspersed with intertwined small streets that look like a maze to those who do not know them. He has his own charm. A financial island with a length of two kilometers and a width of one kilometer, its borders are crowded with buildings, and its population is about 65.000, but with foreign workers and tourists, its number reaches 100.000 people, and it really looks like that. The Addu atoll or the city of Addu is the second city in the Maldives, and its resort is the best place for tourists to visit the rest of the Maldives. The islanders are called Addu. Most tourists come to the Maldives on organized trips, staying in one of the more than 95 resorts, and it is a destination for honeymoons, family vacations, and vacations with friends. Tourists in the resorts practice scuba diving. Most of them are on the three atolls near the capital, North Island Marlay Marlay south of Aare Island, and there are a few other resorts on the nearby atolls.
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