Alif Alif Atoll

Alif Alif Atoll (also known as Northern Ari Atoll or Ari Atholhu Uthuruburi) is an administrative division of the Maldives. It was created on March 1, 1984, combining northern section of Ari Atoll, the small Rasdhukuramathi Atoll, and the isolated island of Thoddoo. Many of the islands in this atoll have been inhabited since ancient times and have archaeological remains from the Maldivian Buddhist period.

Alifu Alifu Atoll
Atoll
Location in Maldives
Location in Maldives
CountryMaldives
Corresponding geographic atoll(s)Ari Atoll Uthuruburi
Location4° N and 72.8° E
CapitalRasdhoo
Government
 • Atoll Chief
Population
 • Total5,905
Letter code
U
Dhivehi letter code
AA (އއ)
 • Number of islands33
 • Inhabited islandsBodufolhudhoo
Feridhoo
Himandhoo
Maalhos
Mathiveri
Rasdhoo
Thoddoo
Ukulhas
 • Uninhabited islandsAlikoirah, Bathalaa*, Beyrumadivaru, Dhin-nolhufinolhu, Ellaidhoo*, Etheramadivaru, Fesdhoo*, Fusfinolhu, Fushi, Gaagandu, Gaathufushi*, Gangehi*, Halaveli*, Kandholhudhoo*, Kudafolhudhoo*, Kuramathi*, Maagaa, Maayyafushi*, Madivarufinolhu, Madoogali, Mathivereefinolhu, Meerufenfushi, Mushimasgali, Rasdhoo madivaru, Velidhoo*, Veligandu*, Vihamaafaru
Resort islands(*), airports(¤) and industrial islands are also considered uninhabited.

The separation of Ari Atoll (formerly Alifu Atoll) into a Northern and a Southern section has formed the two most recent administrative divisions of the Maldives, namely Alifu Alifu Atoll and Alifu Dhaalu Atoll.

Geography

The North Ari Atoll administrative division consists of the northern part of the geographic or natural atoll Ari Atoll (described as Northern Ari Atoll in this context to differentiate from the official name of the administrative division), Rasdhukuramathi Atoll and Thoddoo Island. The atolls consists of Inhabited Islands and Uninhabited Island, a definition which includes resort islands, airport islands and industrial islands.

Inhabited islands
Name Population[1] Coordinates[2] Geographic Atoll/Island Remarks
Bodufolhudhoo5864°11′7″N 72°46′23″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Feridhoo4134°3′3″N 72°43′31″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Himandhoo6673°55′15″N 72°44′38″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Maalhos4083°59′13″N 72°43′11″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Mathiveri6234°11′30″N 72°44′46″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Rasdhoo9494°15′46″N 72°59′31″ERasdhukuramathi AtollCapital of North Ari Atoll administrative division, known as Ross Atoll in the Admiralty Charts
Thoddoo2,0234°26′20″N 72°57′31″EThoddoo Island
Ukulhas9214°12′53″N 72°51′50″ENorthern Ari Atoll

Maalhos: Maalhos is geographically the westernmost island of the Atoll and the second-most westerly inhabited island of the Maldives after Maamakunudhoo. Vajrayana Buddhist remains have been found on this island.

Rasdhoo: Rasdhoo is the capital island of the North Ari Atoll administrative division. It has ferry connections with Malé as well as the other inhabited islands of the atoll. The island has several guesthouses catering to tourists visiting inhabited islands rather than resort islands.

Resort islands

Resort islands are classified as Uninhabited Islands which have been converted to become resorts. The following are the resort islands, with the official name of the resort.

Name Resort Name Coordinates[3] Geographic Atoll Remarks
BathalaaBathala Island Resort[4]4°4′13″N 72°56′43″ENorthern Ari Atoll
EllaidhooEllaidhoo Maldives[5]4°0′22″N 72°56′56″ENorthern Ari Atoll
FesdhooW Maldives[6]4°0′24″N 72°48′39″ENorthern Ari Atoll
GaathafushiGaathufushi Private Island [7]4°1′24″N 72°48′38″ENorthern Ari AtollOwned by W Maldives
GangehiGangehi Island Resort[8]4°13′12″N 72°45′18″ENorthern Ari AtollOwned by UHC Resorts
HalaveliConstance Halaveli[9]4°2′17″N 72°55′9″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Kan'dholhudhooKandolhu Maldives[10]4°0′9″N 72°52′53″ENorthern Ari Atoll
KudafolhudhooNika Island Resort[11]4°10′52″N 72°46′1″ENorthern Ari Atoll
KuramathiKuramathi Maldives[12]4°15′33″N 72°58′45″ERasdhukuramathi Atoll
MaayafushiVoi Maayafushi Resort4°4′25″N 72°53′15″ENorthern Ari Atoll
VelidhooVelidhoo Island Resort4°11′41″N 72°49′6″ENorthern Ari Atoll
VeliganduVeligandu Island Resort[13]4°17′56″N 73°0′41″ENorthern Ari Atoll

Veligandu: Veligandu covers 22 acres (8.9 ha) and it is 600 metres long. It is a holiday resort with 91 rooms and an excellent snorkelling reef. A large number of workers at the resort come from Sri Lanka and India. The island is linked to Male by seaplane services.

Other uninhabited islands
Name Current usage Coordinates Geographic Atoll/Island Remarks
Alikoirah3°56′36″N 72°52′49″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Etheremadivaru4°7′7″N 72°56′16″ENorthern Ari AtollEarmarked for resort development by Emaar Group as Address Madivaru, scheduled for opening in 2020.[14]
Fusfinolhu4°1′6″N 72°57′30″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Fushi4°12′56″N 72°53′1″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Gaagandu4°13′58″N 72°51′54″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Maagau3°59′20″N 72°57′25″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Madivaru4°15′55″N 72°0′0″ENorthern Ari AtollFormerly Banyan Tree Madivaru, now closed
Madivarufinolhu4°16′7″N 73°0′0″ERasdhukuramathi Atoll
Madoogali4°5′45″N 72°45′10″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Mathivereefinolhu4°11′6″N 72°45′2″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Mushimasmigili3°57′32″N 72°54′47″ENorthern Ari Atoll
Vihamaafaru4°7′19″N 72°44′47″ENorthern Ari Atoll
  • An isolated spit in the middle of the Rasdhukuramathi Atoll
    An isolated spit in the middle of the Rasdhukuramathi Atoll
  • Veligandu Island resort
    Veligandu Island resort

References
  1. Based on 2014 Census "Statistical Yearbook Maldives 2017". National Bureau of Statistics, Maldives. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  2. Based on list of islands in "Atolls of the Maldives". Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  3. Based on list of islands in "Status of Islands" (PDF). Department of National Planning, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Republic of Maldives. 16 February 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  4. "Bathala Island Resort". AAA Hotels & Resorts. Archived from the original on 2018-05-05. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
  5. "Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon". Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  6. "W Maldives". Marriott International Hotels. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  7. "Gaathufushi Private Island". Marriott International Hotels. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  8. "Gangehi Island Resort". Gangehi Island Resort. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
  9. "Constance Halaveli". Constance Hospitality Management. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  10. "Kandolhu Maldives". Kandolhu Maldives. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  11. "Nika Island Resort". Take Me To Maldives Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  12. "Kuramathi Maldives". Kuramathi Maldives. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  13. "Veligandu Island". Veligandu Island Resort. Archived from the original on 2018-05-28. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  14. "Emaar Hospitality expands with private island project in Maldives". The National. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  • 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.

3°52′N 72°49′E


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