Male'

Male' is the capital and most populous city of of the Republic of Maldives. Its population of around 133 thousand and area of 5.8 square kilometers (2.2 square miles) make it one of the most densely populated cities in the world and the fifth most densely populated island. It is on the southern edge of North Male' (Kaafu) atoll. The city consists of a central island (Male' itself), an airport island (Hulhule), and two other islands (Vilimale' and Huhumale'). The island has been considerably expanded through land-filling. A bridge is under construction to link Male' with Hulhule. Slightly less than one third of the nation's entire population lives on Male'. The city's water supply is desalinated brackish ground water via reverse osmosis.

aerial seafront plaza motorcycles street motorcycles street motorcycles signs waterfront pier motorcycles mansion balloons night waterfront

Male' Friday Mosque (Male' Hukuru Miskiy), also called the Old Friday Mosque, is one of the oldest and most ornate mosques in Male'. It was built in 1658 over an earlier mosque built in 1153. The minaret (munnaaru), built in 1675, is patterned after those at the entrance to Mecca and is surrounded by a 17th-century cemetary. Women's tombstones have rounded tops while men's have pointed tops.

minaret cemetary

Grand Friday Mosque and Islamic Center, built in 1984 of white marble with the help of the Gulf States, Pakistan, Brunei, and Malaysia, is the largest mosque in the country. Its minaret, or munnaaru, is the tallest structure in Male' other than communications towers.

minaret

fish market and fishing harbor

tunas fish fish tuna steaks cutting fish fishing boats fish

The produce market sells home-grown and imported vegetables.

produce produce produce produce produce market

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Last modified 4 November 2019