Northern Ari Atoll

MaldiveAtoll
ImageExists=Yes
atoll

admin_name=Alifu Alifu Atoll
atoll_name=Ari Atoll Uthuruburi
location=4° 27' N and 3° 55' N
letter=U
abbreviation=AA (އއ)
capital=Rasdhoo
population=6140
noofislands=33
inhabited_islands=8
atoll_chief= Abdullah Khaleel [http://www.atolls.gov.mv/atollchiefs.asp]
islands=Bodufulhadhoo Feridhoo Himandhoo Maalhos Mathiveri Rasdhoo Thoddoo Ukulhas
unislands=Alikoirah, 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

Northern Ari Atoll or Alifu Alifu Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives. It is formed by the northern section of Ari Atoll, the small natural atoll of Rasdhoo or Rasdu Atoll, and the island of Thoddoo or Toddu. Many of the islands in this atoll have been inhabited since ancient times and have arqueological remains from the Maldivian Buddhist period.

Rasdhu Atoll is also known as Ross Atoll in the Admiralty charts.

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.

The island of Maalhos is geographically the westernmost island of the Maldives. Vajrayana Buddhist remains have been found on this island.

References

* "Divehi Tārīkhah Au Alikameh". Divehi Bahāi Tārikhah Khidmaiykurā Qaumī Markazu. Reprint 1958 edn. Malé 1990.
* "Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru". Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee. G.Sōsanī.
* Romero-Frias, Xavier. "The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom". Barcelona 1999.