Malé
From Freepedia
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Malé Image:Male.jpg | |
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| Island Summary | |
| Belongs to | Kaafu Atoll |
| Location | 4°10′ N 73°30′ E |
| Population | 81,647 (2004) |
| Length | |
| Width | |
Malé (Dhivehi: މާލެ), population 81,647 (2004), is the capital of the Republic of Maldives. The city is located on Malé Island in the Kaafu Atoll. Although Malé is geographically located in Kaafu Atoll, administratively it is not considered part of it. A commercial harbour is located in the Island. It is the heart of all commercial activities in the country. Malé International Airport is on adjacent Hulhule Island which includes a seaplane base for internal transporation. Several land reclamation projects have expanded the harbour. Malé is located at 4°10' North, 73°30' East (4.1667, 73.5). [1]
The island is heavily urbanised, the city taking up essentially its entire landmass.
On December 26 2004, one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history, the Indian Ocean earthquake, struck off the western coast of Sumatra. The earthquake and subsequent tsunamis reportedly killed over 220,000 people around the rim of the Indian Ocean. Malé was affected by the resulting tsunami, which flooded two-thirds of the city.
