Alif Dhaal Atoll

Alifu Dhaalu Atoll

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Alifu Dhaalu Atoll
Atoll name Ari Atoll Dhekunuburi
Location 3° 55' N and 3° 28' N
Letter I
Abbreviation ADh (އދ)
Capital Mahibadhoo
Population 8679
No. of Islands 49
Inhabited Islands 10
Atoll Chief Mohamed Mahir [1]
Inhabited Islands
Dhangethi Dhiddhoo Dhigurah Fenfushi Haggnaameedhoo Kunburudhoo Maamingili Mahibadhoo Mandhoo Omadhoo
Uninhabited Islands

Alikoirah Angaagaa Ariadhoo Athurugau Bodufinolhu Bodukaashihuraa Bulhaaholhi Dhehasanulunboihuraa Dhiddhoofinolhu Dhiffushi Dhiggaru Enboodhoo Finolhu Gasfinolhu Heenfaru Hiyafushi Hukurudhoo Hurasdhoo Huruelhi Huvahendhoo Innafushi Kalhuhandhihuraa Kudadhoo Kudarah Maafushivaru Machchafushi Medhufinolhu Mirihi Moofushi Nalaguraidhoo Rahddhiggaa Rangali Rangalifinolhu Rashukolhuhuraa Theluveligaa Tholhifushi Thundufushi Vakarufalhi Vilamendhoo Villingili Villinglivaru

Resort islands, Airports and Industrial islands are also considered uninhabited

Southern Ari Atoll or Alifu Dhaalu Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives.

The separation of Ari Atoll (formerly Alifu Atoll) on March 1, 1984, into a Northern and a Southern section formed the two most recent administrative divisions of the Maldives, namely Alifu Alifu Atoll and Alifu Dhaalu Atoll. Alifu Dhaalu Atoll lies south of the line between the channels of Himendhoo Dhekunukandu and Genburugau Kandu.

There used to be a beautiful ancient mosque in Fenfushi island having wooden decorated ceilings and lacquerwork panels.

Buddhist remains, including a stupa, have been found in Ariadhoo Island.

NOTE: Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, Baa, Kaafu, etc. (including Alif Dhaalu) are code letters assigned to the present administrative divisions of the Maldives. They are not the proper names of the natural atolls that make up these divisions. Some atolls are divided into two administrative divisions while other divisions are made up of two or more natural atolls. The order followed by the code letters is from North to South, beginning with the first letters of the Thaana alphabet used in Dhivehi. These code letters are not accurate from the geographical and cultural point of view. However, they have become popular among tourists and foreigners in the Maldives who find them easier to pronounce than the true atoll names in Dhivehi, (save a few exceptions, like Ari Atoll).[1]

References

  1. ^ Tim Godfrey, Atlas of the Maldives, Atoll Editions 2004