Mike Miles, age 14, of Baltimore, Md., for his question:
WHERE IS MALDIVES?
Maldives is the name of the smallest independent country in Asia. It is also one of the smallest in the world. It consists of about 2,000 small coral islands that form a chain 475 miles long and 80 miles wide in the Indian Ocean.
The northern tip of the Maldives is about 370 miles south of India. Here's how you pronounce the country's name: mai deevz.
Maldives is made up of green tropical islands that cover a total land area of only 115 square miles. This is only slightly greater than the area of Milwaukee, Wis.
The Maldivian people live simple lives that haven't changed much for hundreds of years. Most of the men go out to sea daily to catch bonito and tuna.
The boats are built of coconut or other timber that grows on the islands. Most of the thousands of boats are 36 feet long and eight or nine feet wide at the widest point. Each boat can hold about a dozen fishermen. The fishermen sail 15 or 20 miles out from the islands, throw live bait fish into the water and then use rods and reels to haul in big fish.
When the boats return home, the women prepare the fish. They cook and smoke them over fires. Most of the fish are exported to Sri Lanka although the natives eat some of the fish. Their diets also include coconuts, papayas, pineapples, pomegranates and yams.
Maldivians are small, slight, quiet people. They live on only about 210 of the 2,000 islands. Most of them have just enough food for their families. They barter or trade for other things that they need.
Most Maldivians are descendants of Sinhalese people who came from Sri Lanka. Some are descendants of people from southern India and Arab traders and sailors. Almost ail of the Maidivians belong to the Sunni Muslim sect.
The country is a republic. The president serves as head of the government.
Maldives' islands are grouped together in about 12 clusters called atolls. Barrier reefs around the atolls help to protect the islands from the sea.
None of the islands covers more than five square miles and most are smaller than that. Most are like little platforms about six feet above sea level. An 80 foot elevation on Wilingili Island is the highest point in the country.
The islands have clear lagoons and white sand beaches. The land is covered with grass and low growing tropical plants.
The climate is hot and humid. Daytime temperatures average 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The northern islands receive about 100 inches of rain each year and those in the south receive almost 150 inches. Two monsoons or seasonal winds blow over the islands each year and bring most of the rain.