The Magical Mystery Tour By: Hannah Hausman 1st period

Location The absolute location of my city is 0° latitude and 73°East longitude. The relative location of my place is south of India, in the Indian Ocean, and on the Equator.

Place Native sea life to this place includes whale sharks, whitetip reef sharks, moray eels, lionfish, green sea turtles, a variety of rays, and bioluminescent plankton. Famous landmarks in my place include the Tsunami Monument, the Hulhumale Mosque, the ancient ruins of Havitta, and several Buddhist temples and stupas. My mystery place is one of the 1200 coral islands in its country, with 202 islands inhabited and 87 resort islands. One of the most famous landmarks in my place is the Conrad Rangali Island Underwater Resort, which allows visitors to dine, sleep, or visit the spa surrounded by the diverse ocean life of the region.

Region Originally a Buddhist nation, this region became strictly Muslim in 1153 A.D. with citizens being required by law to be Sunni Muslim. People in this region believe in both white (good) and black (bad) magic, with the coconut being a symbol of black magic. While this region is one of the world’s largest archipelagos, it is the smallest nation in Asia. This region was hit by a tsunami in 2004 and is building walls in its inhabited islands to protect them from rising ocean levels.

Movement My place was established by a prince who moved here from India after being exiled by his own father sometime before 269 B.C. Originally a Buddhist nation, this place was converted into a Muslim country in the 12th Century by traveling holy men who were accompanying traders and merchants on their long journeys. Due to its closeness to Africa, the dance and music styles are of African origin and influence. People travel here for its all-inclusive resorts, world-class diving, snorkeling, and to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Human-Environment Interaction People enjoy scuba diving here along the reefs, where a variety of ocean life can be seen, such as whale sharks, leopard sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, and giant grouper. Surfing, windsurfing, kayaking, and parasailing are popular ways to enjoy the outdoors in this region. The bioluminescent plankton is so popular here that people decorate their pools and homes to imitate it. If you want to see ocean life up close without the fear, there are 3-seater submarines that you can rent that allow you to do so.

Any last guesses?

My Mystery City is… Malé, Maldives

**Works Cited** http://www.journeymart.com/de/maldives/activities/default.aspx http://listverse.com/2014/01/24/10-interesting-facts-about-the-maldives/ http://www.hoteltravel.com/maldives/maldives/outdoor-things-to-do-in-maldives.htm http://www.maldiveshistory.org/index.php?title=Maldives_History