The Maldives is an island nation made up of 26 atolls. The tropical state is known for its soft white sand beaches, clear blue waters and variety of marine life. A large part of the country’s economy is based on tourism, only second to its fishing industry. The capital city Male is bustling with life, fish markets, restaurants, shops and even a mosque carved out of white coral. For those of you wishing to visit Maldives, islands resorts are situated all over this archipelago, such as Naladhu Maldives and many more. Although known to be a romantic getaway popular amongst honeymooners, Maldives is a worthwhile trip for all with its array of activities available on demand, such as snorkelling, scuba diving and much more.
The islands are rich in history. Due to its ideal location, Arab merchants trading along the coasts of the Indian Ocean have been known to use the islands as a resting place. From the end of the 12th Century onwards, various tales have surfaced, explaining the country’s transition to Islam, now the official religion of Maldives.
The earliest flag of the state was merely a plain red field. A black and white striped hoist was added to this flag and used until the 20th Century. During the time between 1926-1932, then Prime Minister, Abdul Majeed added green panelling to the flag along with a white crescent. When the state became a republic in 1953 the crescent was reversed to face the hoist and was not changed back once the Sultanate came back into power the very next year.
The Maldives obtained independence in July 1965 and the black and white striped hoist was removed to give the flag its current appearance. Looking at the colours and the symbolism they portray, the white crescent represents Islam whilst the green stands for peace and prosperity and the red represents the blood shed by those who sacrificed their lives for the protection of their nation.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
