Male
would certainly count as one of the smallest capitals in the world in terms of its
physical size. A third of the countrys population, about 75,000 live in Male.
Different from any other island in the country, Male is a city of high-rise
buildings and paved roads. While the government offices are located in one area, the main
streets are lined with shops and offices. In the old bazaar area which still houses the
countrys hub of wholesale and retail trade, the lanes are so narrow that a single
vehicle would find it difficult to navigate through, especially with its throngs of busy
people.