Maldives, known to the locals in their native language (Dhivehi) as Dhivehi Raajje, is an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands grouped into 26 natural coral atolls in the Indian Ocean. They lie on south-southwest of India and west of Sri Lanka. None of the coral islands measures more than 1.8 meters above sea level. With its abundant sea life and sandy beaches, the Maldives is portrayed by travel companies as a tropical paradise. Maldives was, for the most part unknown to tourists until the early 1970s.