Which ocean surrounds the Maldives, the island country south of India?

The Maldives is an island country in the Indian Ocean, south of India.

The nation consists of 26 natural atolls made up of more than 1,000 coral islands, although only a portion are inhabited. Its islands stretch across a long north–south chain in the Indian Ocean. Malé, the capital, is one of the world’s most densely populated island capitals.

The Maldives sits on the Chagos–Laccadive Ridge, an oceanic ridge formed by volcanic activity. Coral growth later built reefs around the submerged volcanic foundations, creating the ring-shaped atolls associated with the country. Most of the land is extremely low-lying; the highest natural point is only a few metres above sea level.

The Maldives became a British protectorate in the nineteenth century and gained independence in 1965. It is now especially known for tourism, coral reefs, and marine biodiversity. The nearby island nation of Sri Lanka is also in the Indian Ocean, but the Maldives is southwest of Sri Lanka and much closer to the equator.