How were the Maldives formed?

The Maldives is an archipelago consisting of 1192 islands grouped in 26 ring-shaped atolls. These atolls were formed due to the subsidence of the Earth's crust over a long period of time.

Atolls are formed when a volcano erupts on the seafloor, forming an island. As the volcano continues to erupt and the sea level rises, the island becomes submerged. The top of the volcano remains above water and forms a reef. As the reef grows, it forms a ring-shaped atoll.

The Maldives is situated in the Indian Ocean, about 700 miles southwest of Sri Lanka. The atolls are believed to have been formed between 60 and 70 million years ago. The Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with an average elevation of only 1.5 meters above sea level.