Islands of Adventure(a)|即没的观光岛屿——马尔地夫

by Jeremy Beacock

The Maldives, a nation made up of a double chain of islands, offers more than just beaches.

马尔地夫群岛带给观光客的不只是海滩。

One of the world's unique environments is the tiny island nation of the Maldives. These coral and sand islands make up what looks like a necklace strung across the Indian Ocean. There are around 200 inhabited islands in the chain, and the country has a small population of 309,000. Nevertheless, it is a popular tourist destination, with more than half a million visitors every year.

The tropical islands themselves are low-lying. Although only the bigger islands have more vegetation, the hundreds of tiny atolls around them support some of the most fascinating sea life in the world. Indeed, up until the 1970s, the Maldives relied mostly on fishing. Since that time, however, the Maldivian government has invested heavily in tourism. It is easy for tourists to see the appeal of the Maldives because they offer some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world. The abundance of fish and sea life in the clear blue waters makes scuba diving and snorkeling major attractions.

It is not just the scenery that is attractive. The Maldives has been inhabited for at least 3,000 years, and the people have their own colorful customs. Although the country is Muslim, Maldivians have preserved several traditional forms of music. For example, Bodu Beru is a drum-based dance where onlookers can spontaneously join the dancers. For all these reasons, tourism has become a dominant part of the Maldivian economy. Whether you want to relax in the sun, enjoy underwater adventures, or experience a novel way of life, there is no doubt that a trip to the Maldives can provide all this and more.

　　蕞薾岛国马尔地夫是世界上特殊的地理环境之一。这个由珊瑚和白沙构成的列岛，看起来像是一条横挂印度洋的项链，其中大约有 200 个岛屿有人居住，全国人口仅 30 万 9千人。然而，这里却是热门的观光景点，每年吸引超过 50 万人次来访。

　　这些热带岛屿本身地势都不高，其中虽然只有大岛的植被较为茂盛，但是周围几百个小环礁却孕育了世界上最丰富的海洋生态。的确，在 70 年代以前，马尔地夫主要仰赖渔业。但是从那之后，马尔地夫政府开始大量投资观光产业。游客轻易就能看出马尔地夫的过人之处，因为这里有着世界上数一数二的美丽白沙滩。湛蓝海水里的丰富鱼群和海洋生物，使深海潜水和浮潜成了重要的卖点。

　　马尔地夫吸引人的不只有自然风光而已，当地居民至少从 3 千年前就在此居住，他们拥有多采多姿的风俗习惯。虽然它是回教国家，马尔地夫人却保存了数种传统的音乐形式。例如，波度贝鲁（Bodu Beru）就是一种以击鼓为主的舞蹈，围观的人会不自觉地加入舞群起舞。由于以上种种原因，观光业已经主宰了马尔地夫的经济，不论你想在艳阳下放松、享受水底冒险，或体验另一种新奇生活，来一趟马尔地夫，绝对可以一次享有所有乐趣。