Dhaalu Atoll

Dhaalu Atoll
Atoll Summary
Administrative name	Dhaalu Atoll
Atoll name	Nilandhé Atoll Dhekunuburi
Location	2° 50' N and 72° 50' N
Letter	M
Abbreviation	Dh (ދ)
Capital	Kudahuvadhoo
Population	6694
No. of Islands	56
Inhabited Islands	7
Atoll Chief	Mohamed Shafeeu [1]
Inhabited Islands
Bandidhoo Hulhudheli Kudahuvadhoo Maaenboodhoo Meedhoo Rinbudhoo Vaanee
Uninhabited Islands
Aluvifushi Bodufushi Bulhalafushi Dhebaidhoo Dhoores Enboodhoofushi Faandhoo Gaadhiffushi Gemendhoo: abandoned Hiriyanfushi Hudhufusheefinolhu Hulhuvehi Issari Kandinma Kanneiyfaru Kedhigandu Kiraidhoo Lhohi Maadheli Maafushi Maagau Maléfaru Meedhuffushi Minimasgali Naibukaloabodufushi Olhuveli Thilabolhufushi Thinhuraa Uddhoo Valla Vallalhohi Velavaroo Vonmuli Resort islands, Airports and Industrial islands are also considered uninhabited

The uninhabited island of Maafushi in South Nilande Atoll

Traders and chldren waiting at the harbour of Rinbudhoo (Dhaalu Atoll)

Southern Nilandhe Atoll, Nilande Atoll South or Dhaalu' Atoll is one of the atolls of the Maldives. It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name.

Geography

It stretches 23km (14 mi) from east to west, and 38km (24 mi) north to south. Out of a total of 56 islands, seven of the islands are inhabited, with a total population of around 6694. The capital island is Kudahuvadhoo, located at the atoll's southern tip.

Hulhudheli and Rinbudhoo (Rimbudu) islands, located to the west of this atoll, are islands traditionally renowned for the skill of their jewellers.

The formerly inhabited island of Gemendhoo on the eastern fringe of the atoll is surrounded by a long line of 11 uninhabited islands. The route from Bulhalafushi to Naibukaloabodufushi passes through these islands and can be walked in low tide.

History

Some of the islands in this atoll have remains from the Buddhist period, but none of them have been properly excavated yet. Mysterious mounds known as hawittas are found in Kudahuvadhu. The old mosque of Kudahuvadhoo, possesses some of the finest masonry in the country.

Opened to tourism in 1998, the atoll has become a popular location for SCUBA diving.

Gemendhoo was abandoned after the Tsunami of 2005 destroyed the buildings.

Health care

Dhaalu Atoll Hospital is located in the island of Kudahuvadhoo.^[1]

References

1. ^ Dhaalu Atoll Hospital

• 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.

References

• Divehi Tārīkhah Au Alikameh. Divehi Bahāi Tārikhah Khidmaiykurā Qaumī Markazu. Reprint 1958 edn. Malé 1990.
• Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru. Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee. G.Sōsanī.

Coordinates: 2°54′N 72°54′E / 2.9°N 72.9°E / 2.9; 72.9