Some islands in the Maldives are artificial

While most of the islands in the Maldives are thought to have been generated by volcanoes (and the majority of the islands themselves are the very tops of what's left of those volcanic islands that have been further built up by coral), some islands are genuinely manufactured. This is definitely one of the top Things about Maldives You Should Know.

For example, Huhulmale, the island nearest to Male's main airport, is a "reclaimed" or "artificial" island that was formed in 2004 by dumping tonnes of sand and concrete to form a foundation. Huhulmale is now a developed town with roads, stores, and residential areas - but it began as nothing, not even a spit of sand. It's a great example of one of the Maldives' more populous places, where innumerable islands would normally sit. While some of the islands in the Maldives are man-made, they are in the minority, with the vast majority being naturally occurring.