Southern Nilandhe Atoll

Dhaalu Atoll
Country Maldives
Corresponding geographic atoll(s) Nilandhé Atoll Dhekunuburi
Location 3° 20' N and 3° 03' N
Capital Kudahuvadhoo
Government
 • Atoll chief Mohamed Shafeeu
Population
 • Total 6,694
Letter code M
Dhivehi letter code Dh (ދ)
• Number of islands 56
• Inhabited islands Bandidhoo Gemendhoo Hulhudheli Kudahuvadhoo Maaenboodhoo Meedhoo Rinbudhoo Vaanee
• Uninhabited islands Aluvifushi Bodufushi Bulhalafushi Dhebaidhoo Dhoores Enboodhoofushi Faandhoo Gaadhiffushi 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.

Southern Nilandhe Atoll, Nilande Atoll South or Dhaalu is one of the atolls of the Maldives. It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name. It stretches 23 km (14 mi) from east to west, and 38 km (24 mi) north to south. Out of a total of 56 islands, eight 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.

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

Some of the islands in this atoll have remains from the Buddhist period, but none of them have been properly excavated yet.

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