Houses standing on water are the characteristic element of the architecture of Maldives. The Maldives citizens built houses on poles, which are hammered into the sea bottom. These houses are located a few meters from the land; they are connected with the land by piers and platforms. Houses on poles are built not only to save place on the land, but also in order to make every-day activities easier, among which fishing is the most prevalent. Fishing boats can be moored directly next to houses.
