| The Maldives only had a population of 280,000, and they were badly hit, with some parts rendered permanently uninhabitable. |
| Some other yachts were forced to divert and set sail for Maldives and Galle due to stormy weather. |
| The Maldives include nearly 1,200 islands in 15 major atolls spanning approximately 470 miles to just south of the equator. |
| Since the Maldives are so near the equator, you should take care not to get sunburned. |
| The islands of the Maldives are grouped in ring-shaped coral atolls, each enclosing a relatively shallow lagoon with a flat sandy bottom. |
| There are at least 1000 islands in the chain of 19 atolls which make up the Maldives. |
