Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll

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Baa Atoll
Atoll Summary
Administrative name	Baa Atoll
Atoll name	Maalhosmadulu
Location	5° 23' N and 4° 49' N
Letter	F
Abbreviation	B (ބ)
Capital	Eydhafushi
Population	11910
No. of Islands	75
Inhabited Islands	13
Atoll Chief	- [1]
Inhabited Islands
Dharavandhoo Dhonfanu Eydhafushi Fehendhoo Fulhadhoo Goidhoo Hithaadhoo Kamadhoo Kendhoo Kihaadhoo Kudarikilu Maalhos Thulhaadhoo
Uninhabited Islands
Ahivaffushi, Aidhoo, Anhenunfushi, Bathalaa, Bodufinolhu, Boifushi, Dhakendhoo, Dhandhoo, Dhigufaruvinagandu, Dhunikolhu, Enboodhoo, Fehenfushi, Finolhas, Fonimagoodhoo, Fulhadhoorah kairi finonolhu, Funadhoo, Gaagandufaruhuraa, Gaavillingili, Gemendhoo, Hanifaru, Hanifarurah, Hibalhidhoo, Hirundhoo, Horubadhoo, Hulhudhoo, Innafushi, Kanifusheegaathu finolhu, Kanifushi, Kashidhoogiri, Keyodhoo, Kihaadhufaru, Kihavah-huravalhi, Kudadhoo, Kunfunadhoo, Landaagiraavaru, Lunfares, Maaddoo, Maafushi, Maamaduvvari, Maarikilu, Madhirivaadhoo, Medhufinolhu, Mendhoo, Milaidhoo, Miriandhoo, Muddhoo, Muthaafushi, Nibiligaa, Olhugiri, Thiladhoo, Ufuligiri, Undoodhoo, Vakkaru, Velivarufinolhu, Veyofushee, Vinaneih-faruhuraa, Voavah Resort islands, Airports and Industrial islands are also considered uninhabited

Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll (code name Baa) is an administrative division of the Maldives. It consists of two separate natural atolls, namely the southern part of Maalhosmadulhu Atoll (which is 42km long and 32km wide and consists of 10 inhabited islands) and the smaller natural atoll known as Goifulhafehendhu, Goidhoo Atoll (Horsburgh Atoll in the Admiralty charts). Situated on the west of the Maldives atoll chain, it consists of 75 islands of which 13 are inhabited with a population of over 11,000 people. The remaining 57 islands are uninhabited, in addition to five islands being developed as resorts.

Baa Atoll is also considered as a good example of the rich biodiversity found in the Maldives, including large mangroves and a unique diversity of fauna, such as the benthic fauna. Furthermore, the ring-shaped reef forms known as faroes in the Baa atoll is a reef structure which is unique to the Maldives.

The southernmost uninhabited island of Olhugiri in the Baa atoll lies 13 km north of Goidhoo Atoll. Olhugiri is well-known for its unique natural vegetation and for providing two of the only perching sites for the Great Frigatebird in the Maldives. Likewise, other marine creatures such as seaturtles and hawksbill turtles can be encountered.

The Fisheries Ministry of the Maldives has banned catching turtles or taking eggs from Olhugiri, which also applies to 11 other islands.

[edit] References

Divehi Tārīkhah Au Alikameh. Divehi Bahāi Tārikhah Khidmaiykurā Qaumī Markazu. Reprint 1958 edn. Male’ 1990.
Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru. Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee. G.Sōsanī. Male' 1999.

[edit] External links

Atolls of the Maldives	v • d • e
Haa Alif Atoll Haa Dhaalu Atoll Shaviyani Atoll Noonu Atoll Raa Atoll Baa Atoll Lhaviyani Atoll Kaafu Atoll Alif Alif Atoll Alif Dhaal Atoll Vaavu Atoll Meemu Atoll Faafu Atoll Dhaalu Atoll Thaa Atoll Laamu Atoll Gaafu Alif Atoll Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll Gnaviyani Atoll Seenu Atoll