Maldives,[12] officially the Republic of Maldives,[nb 1] is an island nationin the Indian Ocean–Arabian Seaarea, consisting of a double chain oftwenty-six atolls, oriented north-south, that lie between Minicoy Island (the southernmost part ofLakshadweep, India) and theChagos Archipelago. The chains stand in the Laccadive Sea, and the capital, Malé, is about 600 kilometres (370 mi) southwest of India and 750 kilometres (470 mi) southwest of Sri Lanka.