The Maldives is situated in the South West of Sri Lanka, on the equator. The   numerous coral reef islands, 1,190 in total, form an archipelago of 26 natural   atolls ( groups of neighbouring coral islands). These 26 atolls are organised   into 19 administrative atolls with the capital island of Male' established as an   entity of its own forming the twentieth division. Seen from air, the atolls and   the islands form breathtakingly beautiful patterns against the blue depths of   the Indian Ocean.
The largest island of Maldives is Fuvammulah, which is   a single island and single atoll located in the southern part of the Maldives   known as Gnaviyani Atoll in the administrative division. In Addu Atoll the   westernmost islands are connected by roads over the reef and the total length of   the road is 12 km. 
  Maldives Tourism