Haa Alif Atoll

Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi
ތިލަދުންމަތީ އުތުރުބުރި
Atoll
Haa Alif Atoll

Utheemu Ganduvaru in Utheemu Island.

Haa Alif Atoll in Maldives.
Country Maldives
Capital Dhidhdhoo
Geographic atolls
Government
  Council North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council
Population (2006)
  Total 12,939
Time zone MST (UTC+05:00)
Assigned Letter A
Assigned Letter (Dhivehi) ހއ
Area code(s) 650, 20
ISO 3166 code MV-07
Inhabited 14 - Baarah * Dhidhdhoo * Filladhoo * Hoarafushi * Ihavandhoo * Kelaa * Maarandhoo * Mulhadhoo * Muraidhoo * Thakandhoo * Thuraakunu * Uligamu * Utheemu * Vashafaru
Uninhabited 29 - 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
Total 43
Website Haa Alif Atoll

Haa Alif Atoll (also known as Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll or Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi) is the northernmost of the 19 administrative atolls of the Maldives.

Geographically, this atoll consists of Ihavandhippolhu, the northernmost geographical atoll of the Maldive archipelago, and the northern section of Thiladhunmathi atoll, which was administratively divided into northern and southern divisions in 1958. The atoll's official name, 'North Thiladhunmathi' is in reference to this division. Today, Haa Alif Atoll contains 43 islands, 14 of which are inhabited and classified as 'island-class' constituencies. Haa Alif Atoll is the third-largest atoll in the Maldives in terms of population and land area.

The capital of Haa Alif Atoll, and the location of the Secretariat of North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council is the island of Dhidhdhoo.

History

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.

Islands

Haa Alif Atoll contains 43 islands. 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.

Map
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


Island constituencies

Name Population
(2006)
Education Health Political ward Remarks
Baarah 1,203 K-10 1 health centre A03 Baarah
Dhidhdhoo 2,512 K-11 1 hospital A04 Dhidhdhoo Capital of Atoll
Filladhoo 548 K-10 1 health centre A05 Kelaa
Hoarafushi 2,204 K-12 1 health centre A01 Hoarafushi
Ihavandhoo 2,447 K-12 1 health centre A02 Ihavandhoo
Kelaa 1,200 K-10 1 health centre A05 Kelaa
Maarandhoo 530 K-10 1 health centre A02 Ihavandhoo
Mulhadhoo 172 K-8 1 health provider A02 Ihavandhoo
Muraidhoo 451 K-10 1 health centre A03 Baarah
Thakandhoo 340 K-9 1 health centre A03 Baarah
Thuraakunu 347 K-10 1 health centre A01 Hoarafushi Northernmost island in the country.
Uligamu 267 K-10 1 health centre A01 Hoarafushi
Utheemu 521 K-10 1 health centre A03 Baarah Location of iconic Utheemu Ganduvaru.
Vashafaru 471 K-12 1 health centre A05 Kelaa

Uninhabited Islands

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

Name Current usage Coordinates Remarks
Alidhoo Resort (Operational) 6°50′55″N 73°09′07″E / 6.84861°N 73.15194°E / 6.84861; 73.15194 Resort: Cinnamon Island Alidhoo
Alidhuffarufinolhu - 6°51′39″N 73°06′16″E / 6.86083°N 73.10444°E / 6.86083; 73.10444
Beenaafushi - 6°55′42″N 73°08′11″E / 6.92833°N 73.13639°E / 6.92833; 73.13639
Berinmadhoo Resort (Development) 7°02′50″N 72°58′16″E / 7.04722°N 72.97111°E / 7.04722; 72.97111 Was previously inhabited. Population relocated to Hoarafushi.
Dhapparuhura - 6°54′55″N 73°12′40″E / 6.91528°N 73.21111°E / 6.91528; 73.21111
Dhigufaruhura - 6°55′26″N 72°58′08″E / 6.92389°N 72.96889°E / 6.92389; 72.96889
Dhonakulhi Resort (Operational) 6°50′35″N 73°03′05″E / 6.84306°N 73.05139°E / 6.84306; 73.05139 Resort: Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa Maldives
Gaafushi - 6°51′07″N 73°03′27″E / 6.85194°N 73.05750°E / 6.85194; 73.05750
Gaamathikulhudhoo - 7°02′21″N 72°59′04″E / 7.03917°N 72.98444°E / 7.03917; 72.98444
Gallandhoo - 6°56′48″N 72°58′59″E / 6.94667°N 72.98306°E / 6.94667; 72.98306
Govvaafushi - 7°00′45″N 72°55′09″E / 7.01250°N 72.91917°E / 7.01250; 72.91917
Hathifushi - 7°01′12″N 72°49′49″E / 7.02000°N 72.83028°E / 7.02000; 72.83028 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
Innafinolhu - 7°04′25″N 72°48′40″E / 7.07361°N 72.81111°E / 7.07361; 72.81111
Kandaalifinolhu - 6°55′35″N 73°07′48″E / 6.92639°N 73.13000°E / 6.92639; 73.13000
Kudafinolhu - 6°59′22″N 72°53′00″E / 6.98944°N 72.88333°E / 6.98944; 72.88333
Maafahi Fisheries 6°49′42″N 73°09′23″E / 6.82833°N 73.15639°E / 6.82833; 73.15639 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
Maarandhoofarufinolhu - 6°49′43″N 72°58′19″E / 6.82861°N 72.97194°E / 6.82861; 72.97194
Madulu Agriculture 7°03′17″N 72°57′11″E / 7.05472°N 72.95306°E / 7.05472; 72.95306 Leased for long-term fisheries and agriculture.
Manafaru Resort (Operational) 6°59′49″N 72°56′23″E / 6.99694°N 72.93972°E / 6.99694; 72.93972 Resort: The Beach House Iruveli (Waldorf Astoria Maldives)
Matheerah - 7°01′39″N 72°49′08″E / 7.02750°N 72.81889°E / 7.02750; 72.81889
Medhafushi Agriculture 7°00′38″N 72°56′02″E / 7.01056°N 72.93389°E / 7.01056; 72.93389 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
Naridhoo Resort (Development) 6°53′42″N 73°07′36″E / 6.89500°N 73.12667°E / 6.89500; 73.12667
Umareifinolhu - 7°00′34″N 72°51′03″E / 7.00944°N 72.85083°E / 7.00944; 72.85083
Un'gulifinolhu - 6°58′15″N 72°54′03″E / 6.97083°N 72.90083°E / 6.97083; 72.90083
Van'gaaru - 7°05′35″N 72°52′41″E / 7.09306°N 72.87806°E / 7.09306; 72.87806
Velifinolhu - 6°59′39″N 72°52′28″E / 6.99417°N 72.87444°E / 6.99417; 72.87444

Disappeared Islands

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.

Atoll Council

North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
President
Ahmed Rishwan, MDP
Seats 10
Meeting place
Secretariat of the North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council,
Shaariu’l Ameen,
Dhidhdhoo
Website
www.halifatoll.gov.mv

North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council is the local government body responsible for the governance of the Haa Alif Atoll. The council was created in 2011, with the enactment of the Decentralization Bill, which saw the introduction of local governance to the country.

The atoll is divided up into 5 political wards each with two councillors.

Members

Ward Code Name First elected Party
Hoarafushi A01 Abdul-Hannaan Ahmed Fulhu 2011 MDP
Hoarafushi A01 Ibrahim Rasheed 2011 MDP
Ihavandhoo A02 Mohamed Rasheed 2011 MDP
Ihavandhoo A02 Abdullah Hussain 2011 MDP
Baarah A03 Hussain Naseer 2011 DRP
Baarah A03 Hussain Rasheed 2011 DRP
Dhidhdhoo A04 Yoosuf Siraj 2011 MDP
Dhidhdhoo A04 Ahmed Rishwan 2011 MDP
Kelaa A05 Adam Thahzeem 2011 DRP
Kelaa A05 Mohamed Fayaz 2011 DRP

References

    Coordinates: 6°52′48″N 73°06′44″E / 6.88°N 73.112222°E / 6.88; 73.112222

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