Meedhoo (Addu)

Meedhoo
މީދޫ
Inhabited island
Meedhoo

Location in Maldives

Location in Addu Atoll

Coordinates: 0°35′01″S 73°14′03″E / 0.583724°S 73.234041°ECoordinates: 0°35′01″S 73°14′03″E / 0.583724°S 73.234041°E
Country Maldives
Geographic atoll Addu Atoll
Administrative atoll Addu City
Area
 • Total 2.0495 km2 (0.7913 sq mi)
Dimensions
 • Length 2,350 km (1,460 mi)
 • Width 1,625 km (1,010 mi)
Population (2013)
 • Total 2,806
 • Density 1,400/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Time zone MST (UTC+05:00)

Meedhoo (Dhivehi: މީދޫ) is the oldest populated island in Addu Atoll (also known as Seenu Atoll) in the Republic of Maldives, having been settled between 1000 and 500 BCE. Its name comes from the original Indo-Aryan settlers; Meedhoo means Big Island in Sanskrit. Meedhoo is located in the northernmost tip of Addu Atoll.

The original settlers were Divehi people of ariyan origin. Arab traveller by the name of Yoosuf Naib planted the seed of Islam and built a place to worship Allah in the 12th century.In this island where the first mosque was built in the country to worship Allah, has ever since known as a centre of learning and Islamic religious education.

Meedhoo is one of the largest islands in the Maldives. It is famous for the scholars it has produced. Since the sixteenth century eight natives of Meedhoo have served as Fandiyaaru, or Qazi, at Malé. To this day, Meedhoo Ulamma and other noted ecclesiastics hold their own with those of the capital. The oldest cemetery in Maldives Kōgaṇṇu is located in Meedhoo.

Despite its distance from the capital Male' and comparatively small size in population, Meedhoo has ever maintained an importance in Maldivian affairs out of all proportions.

Districts of Meedhoo

Fen'aa Avashu & Dheshenaa Avashu are the main two districts of Meedhoo. Dheshenaa Avashu is to the North, whereas Fen'aa Avashu is to the South.

See also

References

    External links