Small Wonders

Traveling by sea to the island country of Maldives, you’ll find endless water stretching in all directions. As your boat draws closer, though, you’ll notice dark squares poking above the horizon. They’ll rise in height as you approach. You’ll wonder to yourself how palm trees could have grown rectangular foliage? Then the realization will hit you—

Those aren’t trees, they’re buildings!

Jam-Packed and in a Pickle

Resembling a sight from a science fiction movie, the capital city of Malé occupies one of the most densely populated islands in the world. More than 250,000 people are packed into apartment buildings on a circular island of one square mile (2.6 square kilometers).

Not only is Malé dense, it is also low in elevation. Its highest natural point is only 7 feet 10 inches (2.4 meters), making it the lowest country on the planet. As you can imagine, rising an average of only 4 feet 11 inches (1.5 meters) above sea level in the middle of the Indian Ocean puts it at great risk from climate change.

A Royal Past

The entire archipelago of Maldives started off with a greater number of islands than of inhabitants. An astonishing 1,192 coral islands fan out across approximately 35,000 square miles (90,000 square kilometers). Its population was estimated to be 2,147 in the late 19th century, the earliest count available. At that time, Malé was called “the King’s Island” and was the home of the ruling royal dynasty and its palace.

During the past century, Malé has undergone tremendous change. Not only has the population grown, but the royal palace has been replaced by concrete buildings, busy harbors, and scenic boardwalks.

Tourist Tips

Today many tourists visit Malé, often stopping on the way to one of the many beautiful nearby resorts. Visitors rave about the warm, sunny weather and the ease with which they can get from place to place. With a circumference of fewer than four miles, people can easily walk anywhere on Malé.

You could see the entire city on foot in about an hour. Then when you’re ready to cool off in the ocean, head to the accurately named Artificial Beach. Leave your bikini at home, however, as this Muslim country encourages modesty while swimming. You’ll save a bundle on sunscreen!

Have a suggestion for this story? We’d love for you to submit it!