Post 2

This picture illustrates the baron nature of parts of Maldives.

http://toptravellists.net/deadwood-white-sand-beaches-maldives.html

 Maldives is rather interesting in that its soil capacity (being mostly sand) only allows for a few different types of agricultural crops. For the most part, although there are exceptions of tropical palm forests where atolls are large enough to support such an ecosystem, the only crops that are able to grow are few indigenous plants, such as: bamboo, banana, mangroves, breadfruit trees, tropical vines, and dissimilar types of coconut palms. On the larger atolls, the soil is rich enough to be used to grow sweet potatoes, yams, taro, millet, watermelon, citrus fruit and pineapples, however none of these crops are native to the island. Maldives has two distinct periods of monsoon season. The southwest monsoon or hulhangu lasts from about April to November and brings more moisture and storms. These months are essential to the water needs of the people of Maldives, as there is no natural source of fresh water on the islands. The northeast monsoon or lruvai lasts from December to March and are the drier month of the year. The main cash crop of Maldives lies just under the surface of the water around one of its many coral reefs. In other words, fish and marine life both in regards to tourism and consumption are the most abundant and illustrious cash “crop” of Maldives. One of the reasons, in fact, that Maldives has become such a desired tourist location is that there are seven different species of dolphin and nine different species of whale that call Maldives home. Along with sharks, sting rays, manta rays, and turtles.   

Fish of Maldives

http://www.asia-trip.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Maldives-Sky-Sea-Aquamarine-Water-Wallpaper.jpg

N/a, N/a. "Biodiversity FEatures." Bluepeace. Bluepeace, 2 11 2012. Web. 12 Mar 2013. <http://www.bluepeacemaldives.org/biodiversity.htm>