Malé

Malé މާލެ
City
Aerial view of the whole of Malé on the eponymous island as seen from the southwest
Malé Location of Malé in the Maldives
Coordinates: MV 04°10′31″N 073°30′32″E / 4.17528°N 73.50889°E / 4.17528; 73.50889
Country	Maldives
Geographic atoll	North Malé Atoll
Government
• Council	Malé City Council (MDP)
• Mayor	Mohammed Shihab
Area
• Total	5.8 km2 (2.2 sq mi)
Elevation	2.4 m (7.9 ft)
Population (2014)[1]
• Total	133,412[1]
• Density	23,002/km2 (59,570/sq mi)
Time zone	MVT (UTC+05:00)
Assigned Letter	T
Area code(s)	331, 332, 333, 334
ISO 3166 code	MV-MLE

Malé (/ˈmɑːl.eɪ/, local pronunciation: [ˈmɑːlɛ] Maldivian: މާލެ) is the capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives. With a population of 133,412^[1] and an area of 5.8 square kilometres (2.2 sq mi), it is also one of the most densely populated cities in the world.^[2] The city is geographically located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll (Kaafu Atoll).^[3] Administratively, the city consists of a central island, an airport island, and two other islands governed by the Malé City Council.

Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient royal dynasties ruled and where the palace was located. The city was then called Mahal.^[4] Formerly it was a walled city surrounded by fortifications and gates (doroshi). The Royal Palace (Gan'duvaru) was destroyed along with the picturesque forts (kotte) and bastions (buruzu) when the city was remodelled under President Ibrahim Nasir's rule in the aftermath of the abolition of the monarchy in 1968. However, the Malé Friday Mosque remains. In recent years, the island has been considerably expanded through land-filling operations. Over the years, Malé has been the center of political protests and milestone events.

Overview

Although Malé is geographically located in Kaafu Atoll, administratively it is not considered part of it. The central part of the city is formed by the island of Malé. Three more islands form part of the city. A commercial harbour is located on the central island and serves as the heart of all commercial activities in the country.^[5]

The central island is heavily urbanized, with the built-up area taking up essentially its entire landmass.^[5] Slightly less than one third of the nation's population lives in the capital city, and the population has increased from 20,000 people in 1987 to 100,000 people in 2006. Many Maldivians and foreign workers living in other parts of the country find themselves in occasional short term residence on the island since it is the centre of administration and bureaucracy.

Bank of Maldives

History

Friday Mosque in Malé

Etymology

The whole island group, the Maldives, is named after its capital. The word "Maldives" means "the islands (dives) of Malé'".^[6]

Origins

The first settlers in the Maldivian islands were Dravidian people^[7] who arrived from the neighboring shores of the modern Indian Subcontinent and coastal Ceylon. Comparative studies of Maldivian linguistic, oral, and other cultural traditions, in addition to folklore, point to a strong Dravidian influence on Maldivian society, centered in Malé, from ancient times. The people of Giraavaru, an island located in Malé Atoll (now a tourist resort, after the forced diaspora of its inhabitants) claim to descend from the first settlers of the Maldives, none other than the ancient Tamils.^[8]

It is said that Giraavaru fishermen used to go regularly to a certain large sandbank (finolhu) at the southern end of their atoll to clean tuna fish after a good catch. Owing to the large amount of tuna fish offal and blood, the waters around that sandbank looked like a big pool of blood (maa ley gandeh). "Maa" (from the Sanskrit मह "Maha"), meaning big, and "Lē" meaning blood. Traditionally the first inhabitants of the Maldives, which include the Giravaru people, didn't have kings. They lived in a simple society and were ruled by local headmen.

However, one day, a prince from the Subcontinent called Koimala arrived in the Malé Atoll sailing from the North on a big ship. The people of Giraavaru spotted his vessel from afar and welcomed him. They allowed Prince Koimala to settle on that large sandbank in the midst of the waters tainted with fish blood. Trees were planted on the sandbank and it is said that the first tree that grew on it was the papaya tree. However, this could refer to any tree that bears edible fruit as the archaic Dhivehi word (and Mahal word even today) for fruit was the same as that for the papaya (falhoa).^[9] As time went by the local islanders accepted the rule of this Northern Prince. A palace was built and the island was formally named Maa-le (Malé), while the nearest island was named Hulhu-le.

The names of the main four wards or divisions of Malé Island are said to have been given by the aboriginal Giraavaru fishermen: Maafannu from "maa" (big) and "fannu" (a place where a village path meets the sea), Henveiru from "en-beyru" (out where fishermen got their bait), Galolhu from "galu-olhu" (stone groove) and, Macchangolhi from "mathi-angolhi" (windward path-fork).

The modern-day city was founded as a trading post by the Portuguese in the 16th century.

Street scene in Malé

Geography

Climate

Malé has a tropical monsoon climate under the Köppen climate classification. The city features a mix of both wet and dry seasons, with the wet season lasting from May through December and the dry season covering the remaining four months. Unlike a number of cities with this climate, Malé experiences relatively consistent temperatures throughout the course of the year, with an average high of 30 °C (86 °F) and an average low of 26.5 °C (79.7 °F), which is equivalent to many equatorial cities' average year round daily mean. The city averages slightly more than 1,600 mm (63 in) of precipitation annually.

Subdivisions

The crowded skyline of Malé

Wards of Malé

The city is divided into six divisions, four of which are on Malé Island: Henveiru, Galolhu, Maafannu and Macchangolhi. The nearby island of Vilingili, formerly a tourist resort and prior to that a prison, is the fifth division (Vilimalé). The sixth division is Hulhumalé, an artificial island settled since 2004. In addition, the airport Island Hulhule is part of the city. Plans have been made to develop the Gulhi Falu reef, implementation began in 2008.^[13][14][15]

The Island of Malé is the fifth most densely populated island in the world, and it is the 168th most populous island in the world. Since there is no surrounding countryside, all infrastructure has to be located in the city itself. Water is provided from desalinated ground water; the water works pumps brackish water from 50–60 m (160–200 ft) deep wells in the city and desalinates that using reverse osmosis.^[16] Electric power is generated in the city using diesel generators.^[17] Sewage is pumped unprocessed into the sea.^[16] Solid waste is transported to nearby islands, where it is used to fill in lagoons. The airport was built in this way, and currently the Thilafushi lagoon is being filled in.^[18][19]

Many government buildings and agencies are located on the waterfront. Malé International Airport is on adjacent Hulhule Island which includes a seaplane base for internal transportation. Several land reclamation projects have expanded the harbour.

Economy

Malé Airport

Tourism is the largest industry in the Maldives, accounting for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. The GDP per capita expanded by 265% in the 1980s and a further 115% in the 1990s. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Malé, the capital, has many tourist attractions and nearby resorts. The central harbour and port of the Maldives is located in Malé, the centre for all commercial activities. Maldivian, the airline of the Maldives, has its head office in Malé^[20] as does the airline FlyMe.^[21] Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, on nearby Hulhulé Island, is the city's airport and the principal airport in Maldives.

City Council

Malé City Council is the local government body responsible for the governance of the city of Malé. The council was created in 2011, with the enactment of the Decentralization Bill, which saw the introduction of local governance to the country.

The city is divided into 11 political wards each with one councillor. The majority of current councillors, elected in the country's second local council elections in 2014, is from the Maldivian Democratic Party.

Members

Image gallery

• 
  Sultans Gardens Park
• 
  Old Parliament Building

See also

• Hulhumalé artificial island
• Hulhulé Island where is located the Malé International Airport
• Malé Friday Mosque

Footnotes

Further reading

• H. C. P. Bell, The Maldive Islands, An account of the physical features, History, Inhabitants, Productions and Trade. Colombo 1883, ISBN 81-206-1222-1
• H.C.P. Bell, The Maldive Islands; Monograph on the History, Archaeology and Epigraphy. Reprint Colombo 1940. Council for Linguistic and Historical Research. Malé 1989
• H.C.P. Bell, Excerpta Maldiviana. Reprint Asian Educational Services. New Delhi 2002
• Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84-7254-801-5

External links

• Media related to Malé at Wikimedia Commons
• Malé travel guide from Wikivoyage

Links to related articles
Capitals of Asia Dependent territories and states with limited recognition are in italics North and Central Asia South Asia Southeast Asia West and Southwest Asia Ashgabat, Turkmenistan Astana, Kazakhstan* Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Dushanbe, Tajikistan Moscow, Russia* Tashkent, Uzbekistan East Asia Beijing, People's Republic of China Hong Kong, Hong Kong (PRC) Macau, Macau (PRC) Nanjing, Republic of China+ Pyongyang, North Korea Seoul, South Korea Taipei, Taiwan (ROC)+ Tokyo, Japan Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Kabul, Afghanistan Dhaka, Bangladesh Diego Garcia, BIOT (UK) Islamabad, Pakistan Kathmandu, Nepal Kotte, Sri Lanka Malé, Maldives New Delhi, India Thimphu, Bhutan Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Bangkok, Thailand Dili, East Timor Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island (Australia) Hanoi, Vietnam Jakarta, Indonesia* Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Manila, Philippines Naypyidaw, Myanmar Phnom Penh, Cambodia Singapore Vientiane, Laos West Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia) Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Amman, Jordan Ankara, Turkey* Baghdad, Iraq Baku, Azerbaijan* Beirut, Lebanon Cairo, Egypt* Damascus, Syria Doha, Qatar Episkopi, Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK) Jerusalem, Israel (de facto) † Kuwait City, Kuwait Manama, Bahrain Muscat, Oman Nicosia, Cyprus* North Nicosia, Northern Cyprus* Ramallah, Palestine (de facto) † Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Sana'a, Yemen Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh* Sukhumi, Abkhazia* Tbilisi, Georgia* Tehran, Iran Tskhinvali, South Ossetia* Yerevan, Armenia* *Transcontinental country. † See: Positions on Jerusalem. Both Israel and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as capital. Jerusalem contains the Israeli parliament and almost all Israeli government ministries. Tel Aviv contains most foreign embassies in Israel; Ramallah is the administrative seat of the Palestinian Authority. + According to the 1947 Constitution of the Republic of China, Nanjing is the official capital of the ROC, with Taipei as the seat of government. See also Political status of Taiwan. First-level administrative divisions of the Maldives Atolls Haa Alif Haa Dhaalu Shaviyani Noonu Raa Baa Lhaviyani Kaafu Alif Alif Alif Dhaal Vaavu Meemu Faafu Dhaalu Thaa Laamu Gaafu Alif Gaafu Dhaalu Gnaviyani Cities Malé Addu Island-level constituencies of the Maldives Haa Alif Baarah Dhidhdhoo Filladhoo Hoarafushi Ihavandhoo Kelaa Maarandhoo Mulhadhoo Muraidhoo Thakandhoo Thuraakunu Uligan Utheemu Vashafaru Haa Dhaalu Finey Hanimaadhoo Hirimaradhoo Kulhudhuffushi Kumundhoo Kurinbi Makunudhoo Naivaadhoo Nellaidhoo Neykurendhoo Nolhivaram Nolhivaranfaru Vaikaradhoo Shaviyani Bileffahi Feevah Feydhoo Foakaidhoo Funadhoo Goidhoo Kanditheemu Komandoo Lhaimagu Maaungoodhoo Maroshi Milandhoo Narudhoo Noomaraa Noonu Foddhoo Henbandhoo Holhudhoo Kendhikolhudhoo Kudafaree Landhoo Lhohi Maafaru Maalhendhoo Magoodhoo Manadhoo Miladhoo Velidhoo Raa Alifushi Angolhitheemu Dhuvaafaru Fainu Hulhudhuffaaru Inguraidhoo Innamaadhoo Kinolhas Maakurathu Maduvvaree Meedhoo Rashgetheemu Rasmaadhoo Ungoofaaru Vaadhoo Baa Dharavandhoo Dhonfanu Eydhafushi Fehendhoo Fulhadhoo Goidhoo Hithaadhoo Kamadhoo Kendhoo Kihaadhoo Kudarikilu Maalhos Thulhaadhoo Lhaviyani Hinnavaru Kurendhoo Naifaru Olhuvelifushi Kaafu Dhiffushi Gaafaru Gulhi Guraidhoo Himmafushi Huraa Kaashidhoo Maafushi Thulusdhoo Alif Alif Bodufulhadhoo Feridhoo Himandhoo Maalhos Mathiveri Rasdhoo Thoddoo Ukulhas Alif Dhaalu Dhangethi Dhigurah Didhdhoo Fenfushi Hangnaameedhoo Kunburudhoo Maamingili Mahibadhoo Mandhoo Omadhoo Vaavu Felidhoo Fulidhoo Keyodhoo Rakeedhoo Thinadhoo Meemu Dhiggaru Kolhufushi Maduvvaree Mulah Muli Naalaafushi Raimmandhoo Veyvah Faafu Bileddhoo Dharanboodhoo Feeali Magoodhoo Nilandhoo Dhaalu Bandidhoo Hulhudheli Kudahuvadhoo Maaenboodhoo Meedhoo Rinbudhoo Kolhumadulu (Thaa) Burunee Dhiyamingili Gaadhiffushi Guraidhoo Hirilandhoo Kandoodhoo Kinbidhoo Madifushi Omadhoo Thimarafushi Vandhoo Veymandoo Vilufushi Laamu Dhanbidhoo Fonadhoo Gaadhoo Gan Hithadhoo Isdhoo Kalhaidhoo Kunahandhoo Maabaidhoo Maamendhoo Maavah Mundoo Gaafu Alif Dhaandhoo Dhevvadhoo Gemanafushi Kanduhulhudhoo Kolamaafushi Kondey Maamendhoo Nilandhoo Vilingili Gaafu Dhaalu Fares-Maathodaa Fiyoaree Gaddhoo Hoandeddhoo Madaveli Nadellaa Rathafandhoo Thinadhoo Vaadhoo Gnaviyani Fuvammulah Dhadimagu Dhiguvaandu Dhoondigan Funaadu Hoadhadu Maadhadu Maalegan Miskiymagu The capitals of each atoll are in bold. This list excludes first-level administrative divisions, Malé and Addu cities.