Welcome to the Maldives, a small nation of 26 atolls spanning the equator in the Indian Ocean south of India. The Maldives is tiny. Despite being made up of 1,192 islands, its total landmass is smaller than that of Malta. It’s the smallest country in Asia by landmass. The largest island, Gan Island is a mere 8km long and 3.4km wide. 

The Maldives was devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. All but nine islands experienced serious flooding, and six islands were completely destroyed.

This is partially explained when you learn that the Maldives is the lowest country in the world. The highest point in the country is 2.4 metres above sea level. It’s therefore pretty obvious that the Maldives is one of the most endangered nations on the planet due to climate change.

I’ll leave you with a more upbeat fact. The Maldives is home to the world’s largest seaplane airline. Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) operates a fleet of 55 seaplanes serving 79 island destinations. TMA’s main hubs are docks alongside Velana International Airport and Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. Perfect for connecting flights for an island getaway.