CHAPTER 2
Geological Facts And Features Of The Maldives.
In this chapter, we will try to simplify the geography of the Maldives. So that you can choose the most suitable islands for you and what is the advantage of each side, whether it is North, West or Central. We will know more about atolls and how are formed. You will know about the Inhabited and Uninhabited islands.
You Might Not Know Some Geological Facts Of The Maldives.
It’s actually part of South Asia Officially named the Republic of Maldives. The Maldives has situated south-southwest of India and southwest of Sri Lanka. It is one of the smallest Asian countries in terms of size and population. The country enjoys the warm tropical waters of the Arabian Sea.
Most questions people ask about, where to stay in the Maldives and which atoll or islands are good located?.
You want to choose a perfect one but you are confused because of the complex structures of Maldives. Yes, I know that. Before, it was also the same for me before to know more about the Maldives. Atolls are some of the most complex and vibrant structures at the Maldives which is a large country formed by 20 natural atolls. Some atolls are in the form of a number of islands by time and in the form of secluded reefs, which could be classified as smaller atoll formations. So, let us first know more about Maldives atolls.
What Is An Atoll And How It Is Formed
An atoll is a ring-shaped coral reef or series of islets. The atoll is surrounded by water called a lagoon. These atolls are created because of the erupting of the volcano. As the volcano continues to erupt, the seamount’s elevation grows higher, cause breaking the surface of the water. The top of the volcano becomes an oceanic island.
After that, tiny sea animals called corals began to grow around it forming a fringed reef which starts to build a reef around the island. Then creates a hard exoskeleton of limestone (calcium carbonate). Billions of these limestone exoskeletons are the reef. This reef surrounds the island below the ocean surface.
Over Millions of years, the volcanic island wears-out and sinks to the seafloor and disappeared. The ring-shped fringing reef continued to grow and turns into a barrier reef enclosing a shallow lagoon inside. The outer, ocean-facing side of the reff remains a healthy marine ecosystem.After that, The limestone decays. Ocean waves break apart pieces of the limestone reef into tiny grains of sand. This sand and other material sedimented by waves or wind stack up on the reef. This material, including organic matter such as plant seeds, form a ring-shaped island or islets. This is an atoll.
Finally, from this arose a perfect environment for marine life and wonderful underwater ecosystems. And changing the color of the lagoon from deep ocean blue to deep blue-green color (teal color).
The circular coral reefs on each atoll support a large number of islands. Each of the islands in the Maldives is relatively small, with the average size being 1 to 2 km (square kilometer). Many of them are on average 1.5m above sea level. The largest natural island of Maldives is Laamu Atoll “Gan”. Also, the islands lack hills, but some have sand dunes that can reach up to 8 feet.
With wide beaches surrounding the green foliage, and the Maldivian sand is unique in its color and texture. That’s why the Maldives is one of the most unique geographies in the world. It is a South Asian country located south-southwest of India, it is spread over a vast area in the Indian Ocean from north to south.
With some scientists believing that by as early as 2050. Because of Maldives’ low lying islands, rising sea levels due to global warming could seriously impact its existence. So you have to try to experience these amazing destinations before it disappears in the future.
Provinces Of The Maldives
The Maldives consist of Seven Province(seven national administrations) and each administration was headed by a state minister assigned by the president.
Seven provinces, followed by the atolls
Grouped Within As Below:
Region 1 Upper North Province composed of
North Thiladhunmathi (HaaAlifu Atoll).
South Thiladhunmathi (HaaDhaalu Atoll).
North Miladhunmadulu (Shaviyani Atoll).
Region 2 North Province composed of
South Miladhunmadulu (Noonu Atoll).
North Maalhosmadulu (Raa Atoll).
South Maalhosmadulu (Baa Atoll).
Faadhippolhu (Lhaviyani Atoll).
Region 3 North Central Province composed of
Male’ Atoll (Kaafu Atoll).
North Ari Atoll (AlifuAlifu Atoll).
South Ari Atoll (AlifuDhaalu Atoll).
Felidhu Atoll (Vaavu Atoll).
Region 4 Central Province composed of
Mulakatholhu (Meemu Atoll).
North Nilandhe Atoll (Faafu Atoll).
South Nilandhe Atoll (Dhaalu Atoll).
Region 5 South Central Province composed of
Kolhumadulu (Thaa Atoll).
Hadhdhunmathi (Laamu Atoll).
Region 6 Upper South Province composed of
North Huvadhu Atoll (GaafuAlifu Atoll).
South Huvadhu Atoll. (GaafyDhaalu Atoll).
Region 7 South Province composed of
Fuvahmulah (Gnaviyani Atoll).
Addu Atoll (Seenu Atoll).
For more information, you can visit http://www.atollsofmaldives.gov.mv/atolls
How Many Islands In The Maldive?
Approximately, each atoll is made up of several islands. Uninhabited islands on average 20 to 60 and inhabited islands average of 2 to 14 islands. Some atolls consist of one large isolated island surrounded by a steep coral beach.
Both inhabited and uninhabited islands differ from each other.
Inhabited islands have small groves of drumstick, papaya, banana, citrus trees and coconut palms with breadfruit trees are grown in other spots of land. On the other side, Uninhabited islands have different kinds of bushes (magū, boshi) and mangroves (kuredi, kandū).
Where To Stay In Maldives?
Your stay will be at Atolls Inhabited Islands which are as follows:
Region 1: Upper North Province
HaaAlifu Atoll inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Baarah, Dhiddhoo, Filladhoo, Hoarafushi, Ihavandhoo, Kelaa, Maarandhoo, Mulhadhoo, Muraidhoo, Thakandhoo, Thuraakunu, Uligamu, Utheemu, and Vashafaru.
HaaDhaalu Atoll inhabited islands of the atoll are:
animaadhoo, Finey, Naivaadhoo, Nolhivaranfaru, Nellaidhoo, Nolhivaram, Kurinbi, Kulhudhuffushi, Kumundhoo, Neykurendhoo, Vaikaradhoo, Makunudhoo, and Hirimaradhoo.
Shaviyani Atoll inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Bileffahi, Feevah, Feydhoo, Foakaidhoo, Funadhoo – the capital of the Atoll, Goidhoo, Kanditheemu, Komandoo, Lhaimagu, Maaungoodhoo, Maroshi, Milandhoo, Narudhoo, and Noomaraa.
Region 2: North Province
Noonu Atoll, inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Foddhoo, Henbandhoo, Holhudhoo, Kendhikolhudhoo, Kudafaree, Landhoo, Lhohi, Maafaru, Maalhendhoo, Magoodhoo, Manadhoo, Miladhoo, and Velidhoo.
Raa Atoll The inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Alifushi, Angolhitheemu, Fainu, Hulhudhuffaaru, Inguraidhoo, Innamaadhoo, Dhuvaafaru, Kinolhas, Maakurathu, Maduvvaree, Meedhoo, Rasgetheemu, Rasmaadhoo, Ungoofaaru, and Vaadhoo.
The Baa Atoll inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Dharavandhoo, Dhonfanu, Eydhafushi, Fehendhoo, Fulhadhoo, Goidhoo, Hithaadhoo, Kamadhoo, Kendhoo, Kihaadhoo, Kudarikilu, Maalhos, and Thulhaadhoo.
The Lhaviyani Atoll, inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Naifaru, Hinnavaru, Kurendhoo, Olhuvelifushi, and Maafilaafushi.
Region 3: North Central Province
The Kaafu Atoll is a region of the Maldives North Malé Atoll, South Malé Atoll, The inhabited islands of the Atoll are:
Dhiffushi, Gaafaru, Gulhi, Guraidhoo, Himmafushi, Huraa, Kaashidhoo, Malé Maafushi, and Thulusdhoo.
The AlifuAlifu Atoll, inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Odufolhudhoo, Feridhoo, Himandhoo, Maalhos, Mathiveri, Rasdhoo, Thoddoo, Ukulhas, and Fesdhoo.
The AlifuDhaalu Atoll, inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Dhangethi, Dhiddhoo, Dhigurah, Fenfushi, Haggnaameedhoo, Kunburudhoo, Maamingili, Mahibadhoo, Mandhoo, and Omadhoo.
The Vaavu Atoll is the smallest administrative atoll in terms of population composed of:
Felidhu Atoll and the Vattaru Reef which has only one little islet, Vattaru.
Region 4: Central Province
Meemu Atoll ,inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Boli Mulah, Dhiggaru, Kolhufushi, Madifushi, Maduvvaree, Muli, Naalaafushi, Raimmandhoo, and Veyvah.
Faafu Atoll, inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Bileddhoo, Dharanboodhoo, Feeali, Magoodhoo, and Nilandhoo.
Dhaalu Atoll, inhabited island of the atoll are:
Bandidhoo, Gemendhoo, Hulhudheli, Kudahuvadhoo, Maaenboodhoo, Meedhoo, and Rinbudhoo.
Region 5: South Central Province
Thaa Atoll, inhabited islands of atoll are:
Burunee, Vilufushi, Madifushi, Dhiyamingili, Guraidhoo, Gaadhiffushi, Thimarafushi, Veymandoo, Kinbidhoo, Omadhoo, Hirilandhoo, Kandoodhoo, and Vandhoo.
Laamu Atoll, inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Dhanbidhoo, Fonadhoo, Gaadhoo, Gan, Hithadhoo, Isdhoo, Kunahandhoo, Maabaidhoo, Maamendhoo, Maavah, and Mundoo.
Region 6: Upper South Province
The GaafuAlifu Atoll, inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Dhaandhoo, Dhevvadhoo, Gemanafushi, Kanduhulhudhoo, Kolamaafushi, Kondey, Maamendhoo, Nilandhoo, and Vilingili.
The GaafyDhaalu Atoll, inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Fares-Maathodaa, Fiyoaree, Gaddhoo, Hoandeddhoo, Madaveli, Nadellaa, Rathafandhoo, Thinadhoo, and Vaadhoo.
Region 7: South Province
Gnaviyani Atoll Geographically this is the smallest administrative unit in the Maldives. Located in the equatorial channel between the Huvadhu Atoll and Addu Atoll.
Addu City, also known as Addu Atoll or Seenu Atoll inhabited islands of the atoll are:
Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo. The Atoll also has a number of uninhabited islands, including Gan which is the site of Gan International Airport.