Haa Alif Atoll

Haa Alif Atoll is the code name based on the letters of the Maldivian alphabet commonly used to refer to the administrative division officially known as North Thiladhunmathi Atoll (Maldivian: Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi) in the Maldives.

Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi
ތިލަދުންމަތީ އުތުރުބުރި
Haa Alif Atoll
Utheemu Ganduvaru in Utheemu Island.
Utheemu Ganduvaru in Utheemu Island.
Haa Alif Atoll in Maldives.
Haa Alif Atoll in Maldives.
CountryMaldives
SeatDhidhdhoo
Geographic atolls
Government
  CouncilNorth Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council
Population
 (2006)
  Total12,939
Time zoneUTC+05:00 (MST)
Assigned Letter
A
(Dhivehi)
ހއ
Area code(s)650, 20
ISO 3166 codeMV-07
Inhabited14 -
Uninhabited29 -
  • Alidhoo
  • Alidhuffarufinolhu
  • Beenaafushi
  • Berinmadhoo
  • Dhapparuhura
  • Dhigufaruhura
  • Dhonakulhi
  • Gaafushi
  • Gaamathikulhudhoo
  • Gallandhoo
  • Govvaafushi
  • Hathifushi
  • Huvahandhoo
  • Innafinolhu
  • Kandaalifinolhu
  • Kudafinolhu
  • Maafahi
  • Maafinolhu
  • Maarandhoofarufinolhu
  • Madulu
  • Manafaru
  • Matheerah
  • Medhafushi
  • Mulidhoo
  • Naridhoo
  • Umareifinolhu
  • Un'gulifinolhu
  • Van'gaaru
  • Velifinolhu
Total43
WebsiteHaa Alif Atoll

It is the northernmost of the 19 administrative divisions (known as "Atolls") of the country, and is the third-largest administrative division in terms of population and land area.

This administrative division consists of Ihavandhippolhu, the northernmost geographical atoll of the Maldive archipelago, and the northern section of Thiladhunmathi atoll. The capital of North Thiladhunmathi Atoll is the island of Dhidhdhoo where the Secretariat of North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council is located.

Geography

The Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll administrative division consists of a total of 43 islands spread over two natural geographic atolls, namely Northern Thiladhunmathi, and Ihavandhippolhu.

Northern Thiladhunmathi is the northernmost portion of the huge Thiladhunmathi Atoll. Thiladhunmathi Atoll was administratively divided into northern and southern divisions in 1958.

Ihavandhippolhu lies to the north of Northern Thiladhunmathi, with the Ihavandhoo Kandu channel separating the two, and is the northernmost atoll of the Maldives. It is a small natural atoll 22 km in length. It has 25 islands lying all around the boundary reef. One long barrier reef forms the western side of the atoll. There are several coral patches in the lagoon and the general depth in the centre is 20 to 30 fathoms (35 to 55 m).

Ihavandhippolhu is separated from the Lakshadweep Islands of India by the broad channel known as Māmalē Kandu (or Maliku Kandu).

Haa Alif Atoll is located in Haa Alif Atoll
Alidhoo
Alidhoo
Alidhuffarufinolhu
Alidhuffarufinolhu
Beenaafushi
Beenaafushi
Berinmadhoo
Berinmadhoo
Dhapparuhura
Dhapparuhura
Dhigufaruhura
Dhigufaruhura
Dhonakulhi
Dhonakulhi
Gaafushi
Gaafushi
Gaamathikulhudhoo
Gaamathikulhudhoo
Gallandhoo
Gallandhoo
Govvaafushi
Govvaafushi
Hathifushi
Hathifushi
Huvahandhoo
Huvahandhoo
Innafinolhu
Innafinolhu
Kandaalifinolhu
Kandaalifinolhu
Kudafinolhu
Kudafinolhu
Maafahi
Maafahi
Maafinolhu
Maafinolhu
Maarandhoofarufinolhu
Maarandhoofarufinolhu
Madulu
Madulu
Manafaru
Manafaru
Matheerah
Matheerah
Medhafushi
Medhafushi
Mulidhoo
Mulidhoo
Naridhoo
Naridhoo
Umareifinolhu
Umareifinolhu
Un'gulifinolhu
Un'gulifinolhu
Van'gaaru
Van'gaaru
Velifinolhu
Velifinolhu

Islands

Of the 43 islands in the North Thiladhunmathi Atoll administrative division, 14 of them are inhabited and are classified as administrative island constituencies. Each of these constituencies have an island council which responds to the North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council which has its headquarters on Dhidhdhoo.

Island constituencies

NamePopulation
(2006)
EducationHealthPolitical wardCoordinatesGeographic AtollRemarks
Baarah1,203K-101 health centreA03 Baarah6°49′8″N 73°12′30″ENorth Thiladhunmati
Dhidhdhoo2,512K-111 hospitalA04 Dhidhdhoo6°53′24″N 73°6′44″ENorth ThiladhunmatiCapital of North Thiladhunmati Atoll
Filladhoo548K-101 health centreA05 Kelaa6°52′38″N 73°13′39″ENorth Thiladhunmati
Hoarafushi2,204K-121 health centreA01 Hoarafushi6°58′50″N 72°53′45″EIhavandhippolhu
Ihavandhoo2,447K-121 health centreA02 Ihavandhoo6°57′17″N 72°55′33″EIhavandhippolhu
Kelaa1,200K-101 health centreA05 Kelaa6°57′35″N 73°12′46″ENorth Thiladhunmati
Maarandhoo530K-101 health centreA02 Ihavandhoo6°51′18″N 72°58′59″EIhavandhippolhu
Mulhadhoo172K-81 health providerA02 Ihavandhoo7°00′45″N 72°59′45″EIhavandhippolhu
Muraidhoo451K-101 health centreA03 Baarah6°50′23″N 73°09′54″ENorth Thiladhunmati
Thakandhoo340K-91 health centreA03 Baarah6°50′44″N 72°59′38″ENorth Thiladhunmati
Thuraakunu347K-101 health centreA01 Hoarafushi7°06′18″N 72°54′07″EIhavandhippolhuNorthernmost island in the country.
Uligamu267K-101 health centreA01 Hoarafushi7°05′00″N 72°55′40″EIhavandhippolhu
Utheemu521K-101 health centreA03 Baarah6°50′04″N 73°06′47″ENorth ThiladhunmatiLocation of iconic Utheemu Ganduvaru.
Vashafaru471K-121 health centreA05 Kelaa6°53′50″N 73°09′40″ENorth Thiladhunmati

Uninhabited Islands

All uninhabited islands in Haa Alif Atoll are under the control of the North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council.

Resort Islands

Name Resort Name Coordinates Geographical Atoll Remarks
ManafaruJA Manafaru,[1]6°59′49″N 72°56′23″EIhavandhippolhuPrevious resort was The Beach House Iruveli (Waldorf Astoria Maldives)
BerinmadhooConstruction in progress7°02′50″N 72°58′16″EIhavandhippolhuWas previously inhabited. Population relocated to Hoarafushi.
DhonakulhiHideaway Beach Resort & Spa Maldives[2]6°50′35″N 73°03′05″ENorth Thiladhunmati
AlidhooJ Resort Alidhoo[3]6°50′55″N 73°09′07″ENorth Thiladhunmati

Other Uninhabited Islands

Name Current usage Coordinates Geographical Atoll Remarks
Alidhuffarufinolhu-6°51′39″N 73°06′16″ENorth Thiladhunmati
Beenaafushi-6°55′42″N 73°08′11″ENorth Thiladhunmati
Dhapparuhura-6°54′55″N 73°12′40″ENorth Thiladhunmati
Dhigufaruhura-6°55′26″N 72°58′08″ENorth Thiladhunmati
Gaafushi-6°51′07″N 73°03′27″ENorth Thiladhunmati
Gaamathikulhudhoo-7°02′21″N 72°59′04″EIhavandhippolhu
Gallandhoo-6°56′48″N 72°58′59″EIhavandhippolhu
Govvaafushi-7°00′45″N 72°55′09″EIhavandhippolhu
Hathifushi-7°01′12″N 72°49′49″EIhavandhippolhuWas previously inhabited. Population relocated to Hanimaadhoo.
Huvahandhoo-6°57′32″N 72°54′18″EIhavandhippolhu
Innafinolhu-7°04′25″N 72°48′40″EIhavandhippolhu
Kandaalifinolhu-6°55′35″N 73°07′48″ENorth Thiladhunmati
Kudafinolhu-6°59′22″N 72°53′00″EIhavandhippolhu
MaafahiFisheries6°49′42″N 73°09′23″ENorth ThiladhunmatiLeased for long-term fisheries and agriculture.
Maafinolhu-7°00′08″N 72°51′44″EIhavandhippolhu
Maarandhoofarufinolhu-6°49′43″N 72°58′19″ENorth Thiladhunmati
MaduluAgriculture7°03′17″N 72°57′11″EIhavandhippolhuLeased for long-term fisheries and agriculture.
Matheerah-7°01′39″N 72°49′08″EIhavandhippolhu
MedhafushiAgriculture7°00′38″N 72°56′02″EIhavandhippolhuLeased for long-term fisheries and agriculture.
Mulidhoo-6°50′10″N 73°00′40″ENorth Thiladhunmati
NaridhooResort (Development)6°53′42″N 73°07′36″ENorth Thiladhunmati
Umareifinolhu-7°00′34″N 72°51′03″EIhavandhippolhu
Un'gulifinolhu-6°58′15″N 72°54′03″EIhavandhippolhu
Van'gaaru-7°05′35″N 72°52′41″EIhavandhippolhu
Velifinolhu-6°59′39″N 72°52′28″EIhavandhippolhu

Disappeared Islands

These are islands which during recorded history, have been completely eroded away, claimed by the sea due to the sea-level rise associated with global warming or assimilated by other islands.

  • Gasthirifinolhu
  • Gudhanfushi
  • Huraa
  • Nasfaru
  • Thiladhoo (merged into Dhidhdhoo, it was after this island that the atoll got its name of 'Thiladhunmathi')
  • Thinadhoo

Administration

Atoll Council

North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
President
Moosa Shafeeq, MDP
Seats14
Meeting place
Secretariat of the North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council,
Shaariu’l Ameen,
Dhidhdhoo
Website
www.halifatoll.gov.mv

The North Thiladhunmathi Atoll administrative division is governed by an Atoll Council. The atoll council was created in 2011 with the enactment of the Decentralization Bill, which saw the introduction of local governance to the country. The secretariat of the atoll council is located on Dhidhdhoo.

The atoll is further divided up into 5 political wards each with one councillor.

Members

WardCodeNameElectedParty
HoarafushiA06Mohamed Waheed2021MDP
IhavandhooA07Ahmed sabah2021PPM
BaarahA16Safath Mohamed2021MDP
DhidhdhooA10Abdulla Rasheed2021PPM
KelaaA08Abdulla Infaz2021PPM
VashafaruA09Ahmed Mueen2021PPM
UtheemA14Abdulla Rasheed2021PPM
ThuraakunuA01Alee Abdulatheef2021PPM
MuraidhooA15Alee Sinan2021MDP
FilladhooA11Fathulla Hassan2021MDP
ThakandhooA13Hussain Naeem2021MDP
MaarandhooA12Jailam Haaroon2021PPM
UliganA02Ahmed Muaaz Mohamed2021ID
MolhadhooA05Mohamed Sinadh2021ID

History

In Matheerah there is a famous shrine (ziyaraiy, mausoleum) which was visited formerly by the Maldive kings and their families in order to seek blessings. Such tomb visits are aspects of Sufism that existed among the Maldivians until very recent times. Hence this island was referred to with the honorific title Matheerahffulhu (High (noble) Island) by the Sufi Muslims of the Maldives at that time.

Traditionally the northernmost atoll of the Maldives was Minicoy (Maliku). Fishermen from Thuraakunu and from Minicoy often crossed the Maliku Kandu on their boats to visit each other's islands. Marriage alliances were common. Now Minicoy is a part of India and communication is highly restricted.

As an administrative division, North Thiladhunmathi Atoll was created when the huge natural Thiladhunmathi Atoll was administratively divided into northern and southern divisions in 1958.

References

  1. "JA Manafaru". JA Resorts & Hotels. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  2. "Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa". Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  3. "J Resort Alidhoo". J Resorts & Hotels Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  • 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.

6.88°N 73.112222°E / 6.88; 73.112222

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