Dhaalu Atoll

Dhaalu Atoll
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Country	Maldives
Corresponding geographic atoll(s)	Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi
Location	2° 50' N and 72° 50' N
Capital	Kudahuvadhoo
Government
• Atoll chief	Mohamed Shafeeu [1]
Population
• Total	5,305
Letter code	M
Dhivehi letter code	Dh (ދ)
• Number of islands	56
• Inhabited islands	Bandidhoo * Hulhudheli * Kudahuvadhoo * Maaenboodhoo * Meedhoo * Rinbudhoo * Vaanee
• Uninhabited islands	Aluvifushi, Bodufushi, Bulhalafushi, Dhebaidhoo, Dhoores, Enboodhoofushi, Faandhoo, Gaadhiffushi, Gemendhoo (abandoned), Hiriyanfushi, Hudhufusheefinolhu, Hulhuvehi, Issari, Kandinma, Kanneiyfaru, Kedhigandu, Kiraidhoo, Lhohi, Maadheli, Maafushi, Maagau, Maléfaru, Meedhuffushi, Minimasgali, Naibukaloabodufushi, Olhuveli, Thilabolhufushi, Thinhuraa, Uddhoo, Valla, Vallalhohi, Velavaroo, Vonmuli
Resort islands, airports and industrial islands are also considered uninhabited.

Dhaalu' Atoll (also known as Southern Nilandhe Atoll or Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi) is one of the atolls of the Maldives. It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name.

File:People on the harbour of hulhudheli island.jpg

Traders and children waiting at the harbour of Rinbudhoo (Dhaalu Atoll)

File:Maafusi dhaalu atoll maldives.jpg

The uninhabited island of Maafushi in South Nilande Atoll

Geography

It stretches 23km (14 mi) from east to west, and 38km (24 mi) north to south. Out of a total of 56 islands, seven of the islands are inhabited, with a total population of around 6694. The capital island is Kudahuvadhoo, located at the atoll's southern tip.

Hulhudheli and Rinbudhoo (Rimbudu) islands, located to the west of this atoll, are islands traditionally renowned for the skill of their jewellers.

The formerly inhabited island of Gemendhoo on the eastern fringe of the atoll is surrounded by a long line of 11 uninhabited islands. The route from Bulhalafushi to Naibukaloabodufushi passes through these islands and can be walked in low tide.

Dhaalu Atoll Hospital is located in the island of Kudahuvadhoo.

History

Some of the islands in this atoll have remains from the Buddhist period, but none of them have been properly excavated yet. Mysterious mounds known as hawittas are found in Kudahuvadhu. The old mosque of Kudahuvadhoo, possesses some of the finest masonry in the country.

Opened to tourism in 1998, the atoll has become a popular location for SCUBA diving.

Gemendhoo was abandoned after the tsunami of 2004 destroyed the buildings.

References

• Divehi Tārīkhah Au Alikameh. Divehi Bahāi Tārikhah Khidmaiykurā Qaumī Markazu. Reprint 1958 edn. Malé 1990.
• Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru. Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee. G.Sōsanī.
• Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999.