The Maldives is an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean. The islands that make up the country extend more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west. The northernmost atoll is about 370 miles (600 km) south-southwest of the Indian mainland.

After the British took possession of Ceylon in 1796, the Maldives became a British protectorate, a status formalized in 1887. In 1965 the Maldives attained complete political independence from the British, and in 1968 a new republic was inaugurated. British troops left on March 29, 1976, and this day is now celebrated as Maldives Independence Day.

The average annual temperature in the Maldives varies from 76°F to 86°F (24 to 30 °C). The rainy season is from May to August, and from December to March the northeast monsoon brings dry and mild winds.

The official language of Maldives is an Indo-European language called Dhivehi (Maldivian). Arabic, Hindi, and English are also commonly spoken.

The 2008 constitution established Islam as the official state religion of the Maldives. Non-Muslims cannot become citizens, and the People’s Majlis is prohibited from making any law that contravenes the tenets of Islam.