Maldives Island

Maldives, in the Indian Ocean consisting of a double chain of twenty-six atolls, oriented north-south, that lie between Minicoy Island (the southernmost part of Lakshadweep, India) and the Chigoes Archipelago. The chains stand in the Laccadive Sea, about 700 kilometers (430 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka and 400 kilometers (250 mi) south-west of India. Maldives' capital and largest city is Male, located at the southern edge of North Male Atoll, had a population of 103,693. The Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area. With an average ground level of 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the planet's lowest country, also the country with the lowest natural highest point in the world, at 2.4 meters (7 ft 10 in).