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Haa Alif Atoll

Coordinates: 6°52′48″N 73°06′44″E / 6.88°N 73.112222°E / 6.88; 73.112222
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(Redirected from Huvahandhoo)
Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi
ތިލަދުންމަތީ އުތުރުބުރި
atoll of the Maldives
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
2 atolls
Government
 • CouncilNorth Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council
Population
 (2006)
 • Total
12,939
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

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 Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll (Maldivian: Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi) in the Maldives.

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

[edit]

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
Baarah
Dhidhdhoo
Filladhoo
Hoarafushi
Ihavandhoo
Kelaa
Maarandhoo
Mulhadhoo
Muraidhoo
Thakandhoo
Thuraakunu
Uligamu
Utheemu
Vashafaru
class=notpageimage|
Ihavandhippolhu Atoll (left) and Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll (right)

Islands

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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

[edit]
Name Population
(2006)		 Education Health Political ward Coordinates Geographic Atoll Remarks
Baarah 1,203 K-10 1 health centre A03 Baarah 6°49′8″N 73°12′30″E / 6.81889°N 73.20833°E / 6.81889; 73.20833 North Thiladhunmati
Dhidhdhoo 2,512 K-11 1 hospital A04 Dhidhdhoo 6°53′24″N 73°6′44″E / 6.89000°N 73.11222°E / 6.89000; 73.11222 North Thiladhunmati Capital of North Thiladhunmati Atoll
Filladhoo 548 K-10 1 health centre A05 Kelaa 6°52′38″N 73°13′39″E / 6.87722°N 73.22750°E / 6.87722; 73.22750 North Thiladhunmati
Hoarafushi 2,204 K-12 1 health centre A01 Hoarafushi 6°58′50″N 72°53′45″E / 6.98056°N 72.89583°E / 6.98056; 72.89583 Ihavandhippolhu
Ihavandhoo 2,447 K-12 1 health centre A02 Ihavandhoo 6°57′17″N 72°55′33″E / 6.95472°N 72.92583°E / 6.95472; 72.92583 Ihavandhippolhu
Kelaa 1,200 K-10 1 health centre A05 Kelaa 6°57′35″N 73°12′46″E / 6.95972°N 73.21278°E / 6.95972; 73.21278 North Thiladhunmati
Maarandhoo 530 K-10 1 health centre A02 Ihavandhoo 6°51′18″N 72°58′59″E / 6.85500°N 72.98306°E / 6.85500; 72.98306 Ihavandhippolhu
Mulhadhoo 172 K-8 1 health provider A02 Ihavandhoo 7°00′45″N 72°59′45″E / 7.01250°N 72.99583°E / 7.01250; 72.99583 Ihavandhippolhu
Muraidhoo 451 K-10 1 health centre A03 Baarah 6°50′23″N 73°09′54″E / 6.83972°N 73.16500°E / 6.83972; 73.16500 North Thiladhunmati
Thakandhoo 340 K-9 1 health centre A03 Baarah 6°50′44″N 72°59′38″E / 6.84556°N 72.99389°E / 6.84556; 72.99389 North Thiladhunmati
Thuraakunu 347 K-10 1 health centre A01 Hoarafushi 7°06′18″N 72°54′07″E / 7.10500°N 72.90194°E / 7.10500; 72.90194 Ihavandhippolhu Northernmost island in the country.
Uligamu 267 K-10 1 health centre A01 Hoarafushi 7°05′00″N 72°55′40″E / 7.08333°N 72.92778°E / 7.08333; 72.92778 Ihavandhippolhu
Utheemu 521 K-10 1 health centre A03 Baarah 6°50′04″N 73°06′47″E / 6.83444°N 73.11306°E / 6.83444; 73.11306 North Thiladhunmati Location of iconic Utheemu Ganduvaru.
Vashafaru 471 K-12 1 health centre A05 Kelaa 6°53′50″N 73°09′40″E / 6.89722°N 73.16111°E / 6.89722; 73.16111 North Thiladhunmati

Uninhabited Islands

[edit]

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

Resort Islands

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Name Resort Name Coordinates Geographical Atoll Remarks
Manafaru JA Manafaru,[1] 6°59′49″N 72°56′23″E / 6.99694°N 72.93972°E / 6.99694; 72.93972 Ihavandhippolhu Previous resort was The Beach House Iruveli (Waldorf Astoria Maldives)
Berinmadhoo Construction in progress 7°02′50″N 72°58′16″E / 7.04722°N 72.97111°E / 7.04722; 72.97111 Ihavandhippolhu Was previously inhabited. Population relocated to Hoarafushi.
Dhonakulhi Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa Maldives[2] 6°50′35″N 73°03′05″E / 6.84306°N 73.05139°E / 6.84306; 73.05139 North Thiladhunmati
Alidhoo J Resort Alidhoo[3] 6°50′55″N 73°09′07″E / 6.84861°N 73.15194°E / 6.84861; 73.15194 North Thiladhunmati

Other Uninhabited Islands

Name Current usage Coordinates Geographical Atoll Remarks
Alidhuffarufinolhu - 6°51′39″N 73°06′16″E / 6.86083°N 73.10444°E / 6.86083; 73.10444 North Thiladhunmati
Beenaafushi - 6°55′42″N 73°08′11″E / 6.92833°N 73.13639°E / 6.92833; 73.13639 North Thiladhunmati
Dhapparuhura - 6°54′55″N 73°12′40″E / 6.91528°N 73.21111°E / 6.91528; 73.21111 North Thiladhunmati
Dhigufaruhura - 6°55′26″N 72°58′08″E / 6.92389°N 72.96889°E / 6.92389; 72.96889 North Thiladhunmati
Gaafushi - 6°51′07″N 73°03′27″E / 6.85194°N 73.05750°E / 6.85194; 73.05750 North Thiladhunmati
Gaamathikulhudhoo - 7°02′21″N 72°59′04″E / 7.03917°N 72.98444°E / 7.03917; 72.98444 Ihavandhippolhu
Gallandhoo - 6°56′48″N 72°58′59″E / 6.94667°N 72.98306°E / 6.94667; 72.98306 Ihavandhippolhu
Govvaafushi - 7°00′45″N 72°55′09″E / 7.01250°N 72.91917°E / 7.01250; 72.91917 Ihavandhippolhu
Hathifushi - 7°01′12″N 72°49′49″E / 7.02000°N 72.83028°E / 7.02000; 72.83028 Ihavandhippolhu Was previously inhabited. Population relocated to Hanimaadhoo.
Huvahandhoo - 6°57′32″N 72°54′18″E / 6.95889°N 72.90500°E / 6.95889; 72.90500 Ihavandhippolhu
Innafinolhu - 7°04′25″N 72°48′40″E / 7.07361°N 72.81111°E / 7.07361; 72.81111 Ihavandhippolhu
Kandaalifinolhu - 6°55′35″N 73°07′48″E / 6.92639°N 73.13000°E / 6.92639; 73.13000 North Thiladhunmati
Kudafinolhu - 6°59′22″N 72°53′00″E / 6.98944°N 72.88333°E / 6.98944; 72.88333 Ihavandhippolhu
Maafahi Fisheries 6°49′42″N 73°09′23″E / 6.82833°N 73.15639°E / 6.82833; 73.15639 North Thiladhunmati Leased for long-term fisheries and agriculture.
Maafinolhu - 7°00′08″N 72°51′44″E / 7.00222°N 72.86222°E / 7.00222; 72.86222 Ihavandhippolhu
Maarandhoofarufinolhu - 6°49′43″N 72°58′19″E / 6.82861°N 72.97194°E / 6.82861; 72.97194 North Thiladhunmati
Madulu Agriculture 7°03′17″N 72°57′11″E / 7.05472°N 72.95306°E / 7.05472; 72.95306 Ihavandhippolhu Leased for long-term fisheries and agriculture.
Matheerah - 7°01′39″N 72°49′08″E / 7.02750°N 72.81889°E / 7.02750; 72.81889 Ihavandhippolhu
Medhafushi Agriculture 7°00′38″N 72°56′02″E / 7.01056°N 72.93389°E / 7.01056; 72.93389 Ihavandhippolhu Leased for long-term fisheries and agriculture.
Mulidhoo - 6°50′10″N 73°00′40″E / 6.83611°N 73.01111°E / 6.83611; 73.01111 North Thiladhunmati
Naridhoo Resort (Development) 6°53′42″N 73°07′36″E / 6.89500°N 73.12667°E / 6.89500; 73.12667 North Thiladhunmati
Umareifinolhu - 7°00′34″N 72°51′03″E / 7.00944°N 72.85083°E / 7.00944; 72.85083 Ihavandhippolhu
Un'gulifinolhu - 6°58′15″N 72°54′03″E / 6.97083°N 72.90083°E / 6.97083; 72.90083 Ihavandhippolhu
Van'gaaru - 7°05′35″N 72°52′41″E / 7.09306°N 72.87806°E / 7.09306; 72.87806 Ihavandhippolhu
Velifinolhu - 6°59′39″N 72°52′28″E / 6.99417°N 72.87444°E / 6.99417; 72.87444 Ihavandhippolhu

Disappeared Islands

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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

[edit]

Atoll Council

[edit]
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

[edit]
Ward Code Name Elected Party
Hoarafushi A06 Mohamed Waheed 2021 MDP
Ihavandhoo A07 Ahmed Sabah 2021 PPM
Baarah A16 Safath Mohamed 2021 MDP
Dhidhdhoo A10 Abdulla Rasheed 2021 PPM
Kelaa A08 Abdulla Infaz 2021 PPM
Vashafaru A09 Ahmed Mueen 2021 PPM
Utheem A14 Abdulla Rasheed 2021 PPM
Thuraakunu A01 Alee Abdulatheef 2021 PPM
Muraidhoo A15 Alee Sinan 2021 MDP
Filladhoo A11 Fathulla Hassan 2021 MDP
Thakandhoo A13 Hussain Naeem 2021 MDP
Maarandhoo A12 Jailam Haaroon 2021 PPM
Uligan A02 Ahmed Muaaz Mohamed 2021 ID
Molhadhoo A05 Mohamed Sinadh 2021 ID

History

[edit]

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

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  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°52′48″N 73°06′44″E / 6.88°N 73.112222°E / 6.88; 73.112222

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