ATOLLS



The Maldives are formed by 20 natural atolls, along with a few islands and isolated reefs today which form a pattern stretching from 7 degrees 10 North to 0 degrees 45 South. The largest of these atolls is Boduthiladhunmathi, while the atoll containing the most islands is Huvadhu. All land above the surface in the Maldives is of coralline origin. The atolls of the Maldives form a quite regular chain and, especially in the northern and central atolls, an arrayed structure is apparent. There are broad and deep channels in between some atollsThe origin of the word “atoll” itself is in the language of the Maldives.

HAA ALIF ATOLL

Officially referred to as Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi (Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll) -- is the northernmost administrative division of the Maldives. As the administrative division known as Haa Alif, it includes Ihavandhippolhu, the northernmost natural atoll of the Maldive archipelago, as well as a section of the larger Thiladhunmathi or Tiladummati Atoll. Thiladhunmathi was divided into its northern and southern divisions on May 21, 1958. The north division was integrated with Ihavandhippolhu forming administratively an new atoll called Haa Alif Atoll or Thiladhunmathi North. North Thiladhunmathi is the third largest atoll in the Maldives in terms of population and land area. The atoll being the north tip of the Maldives, it is the closest to Sri Lanka and India.

SHAVIYANI ATOLL

Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi Atoll (Northern Miladhunmadulu Atoll) is commonly known by the abbreviated name Shaviyani Atoll. It is an Administrative division of the Maldives. It corresponds to the northern section of the natural Miladhunmadulu Atoll, located in the north of the Maldives.

NOONU ATOLL

Southern Miladhunmadulu Atoll or Noonu is an administrative division of the Maldives corresponding to the southern section of Miladhunmadulu Atoll. The capital is Manadhoo. The channel to the west of this atoll is called Baraveli Kandu. “Baraveli” means hermit crab in the local Dhivehi language.

RAA ATOLL

Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll or Raa Atoll is an administrative division from the Maldives. The capital is Ungoofaaru. It includes Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll proper and the island of Alifushi. Alifushi and Etthingili (Powell Islands in the Admiralty Chart) stand on a detached reef of their own with very deep waters (no sounding) between this faru and the northern end of the main atoll.

BAA ATOLL

Baa Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives. Situated on the west of the Maldives atoll chain, it consists of three separate natural atolls, namely southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll (which is 42 km long and 32 km wide and consists of 9 inhabited islands), the Fasduthere Atoll (wedged in between two Maalhosmadulu Atolls and separated from north Maalhosmasdulu Atoll by Hani Kandu or Moresby Channel) and the smaller natural atoll known as Goifulhafehendhu Atoll (Horsburgh Atoll in the Admiralty charts)

LHAVIYANI ATOLL

Lhaviyani Atoll or Faadhippolhu Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives. The island of Maafilaafushi was resettled in the 1980s in order to relieve the lack of land availability in Malé. The island once served as the capital of the separatist Kingdom of Boduthiladhunmathi. Mohamed Rannabadeyri Thakuru with the help of Adhi Raja of Cannanore attacked Male’ and tried to overthrow the Kingdom of Ibrahim Kalaafaanu (Sultan Ibrahim III 1585-1609). However, being unable to take control of the capital Male’, they fled to Faadhippolhu where Mohamed Rannabadeyri controlled the northern atolls of the Maldives until he was overthrown by Sultan Muhammad Imaduddin (1620-1648)

DHAALU ATOLL



Southern Nilandhe Atoll, Nilande Atoll South or Dhaalu Atoll is one of the atolls of the Maldives. It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name. It stretches 23 kilometres (14 miles) from east to west, and 38 kilometres (24 miles) north to south. The capital island is Kudahuvadhoo, located at the atoll’s southern tip.

THAA ATOLL

Kolhumadulu Atoll, known commonly as Thaa Atoll, is an administrative division of the Maldives. It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name. The ancient name of the island was Kolhumaduva during the time of King Koimala who united all atolls of the Maldives under one Kingdom for the first time.

LAAMU ATOLL

Haddhunmathi Atoll or Laamu Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives. It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name. The administrative capital is located on Fonadhoo Island. It is mostly rimmed by barrier reefs, the broadest of which are topped by islands. There are many islands along its eastern and southern boundaries. This atoll is quite regular except for the projection of the reef at its NE corner (Isdhu Muli). It closely resembles Kolhumadulhu, its neighbour further north. Owing to its typical atoll shape, it differs in no respect from atolls in the Pacific Ocean, save for its greater size. Its reefs are generally of little breadth, with no signs of vilu (deep pools), except for its eastern fringes which are covered with islands that are quite large by Maldive standards.

GAAFU ALIFU ATOLL

Northern Huvadhu Atoll or Gaafu Alifu is an administrative division of the Maldives created on February 8, 1962 when Huvadhu Atoll was divided into two districts. Gaafu Alifu corresponds to the northeastern section of this large natural atoll north of the line extending between the channels of Footukandu and Vaarulu Kandu. The capital of this district is Vilingili.

GAAFU DHAALU ATOLL

Southern Huvadhu Atoll or Gaafu Dhaalu is an administrative district of the Maldives formed by the southwestern section of Huvadhu Atoll. It was created on February 8, 1962 when Huvadhu Atoll was divided into two districts. Gaafu Dhaalu corresponds to the Southwestern section of this large natural atoll, south of the line extending between the channels of Footukandu and Vaarulu Kandu. The capital of this region is Thinadhoo (formerly known as Havaru Thinadhu). This district is located about 340 kilometres south of the capital Male’.

GNAVIYANI ATOLL (FUVAHMULAH)

Gnaviyani Atoll is one of the administrative divisions of the Maldives corresponding to the natural atoll, Fuvahmulah. Surface-wise this is the smallest administrative unit in the Maldives, situated in the Equatorial Channel (Addu - Mulah Kandu) between Huvadhu Atoll and Addu Atoll.

ADDU ATOLL

Addu Atoll, previously also known as Seenu Atoll, is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. Addu Atoll, together with Fuvahmulah, located 52.3 kilometres north of Addu Atoll, extend the Maldives into the Southern Hemisphere. Addu Atoll is located 541 kilometres from Gan Island south of Malé. Administratively, Addu Atoll is the site of Addu City, one of the four cities of Maldives. Addu City is constituted of the inhabited areas of Addu Atoll, namely the natural islands of Hulhudhoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo, and Hithadhoo. The districts of Addu City are not according to the natural islands that it comprises. In addition to the areas that are included as a part of Addu City, Addu Atoll has a number of uninhabited islands, including the island of Gan, where Gan International Airport is located.