Gaafu Dhaalu (also known as Southern Huvadhu Atoll or Huvadhu Atholhu Dhekunuburi, ހުވަދުއަތޮޅު ދެކުނުބުރި) is an administrative district of the Maldives formed by the southwestern section of Huvadhu Atoll. It was created on February 8, 1962, when Huvadhu Atoll was divided into two districts. Gaafu Dhaalu corresponds to the Southwestern section of this large natural atoll, south of the line extending between the channels of Footukandu and Vaarulu Kandu. The capital of this region is Thinadhoo (Thenadhoo). There are 153 islands in this district, 10 of which are inhabited. This district is located about 340 kilometers south of the capital Malé.
Resort islands(*), airports(¤) and industrial islands are also considered uninhabited.
Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, Baa, Kaafu, etc. (including Gaafu Dhaalu) are code letters assigned to the present administrative divisions of the Maldives. They are not the proper names of the natural atolls that make up these divisions. Some atolls are divided into two administrative divisions while other divisions are made up of two or more natural atolls. The order followed by the code letters is from North to South, beginning with the first letters of the Thaana alphabet used in Dhivehi. These code letters are not accurate from the geographical and cultural point of view. However, they have become popular among tourists and foreigners in the Maldives who find them easier to pronounce than the true atoll names in Dhivehi, (save a few exceptions, like Ari Atoll).[1]
Historically the Huvadhu Atoll chief had a great measure of self-government. He even had the privilege, not granted to any other atoll chief of the Maldives, to fly his own flag in his vessels and at his residence.
In January 1959, the three southern atolls: Huvadhu, Fuvahmulah and Addu, were involved in setting up the breakaway United Suvadive Republic which survived until September 1963. The name of the secessionist state was taken from the ancient name of this atoll. In some islands, like Gaddhū, there was opposition to the secession, and by means of threats and arson, the groups of people opposing the Suvadive state were forced to agree. Havaru Thinadhoo was burnt down by soldiers sent by then Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir from Malé during the secession in 1962, after which it was left uninhabited for four whole years.
In 2006 the Tourism Ministry of Maldives released the island of Vatavarrehaa for tourist resort development. A 150-bed resort is planned, this is the first resort to be built in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.[2]
Archaeologyedit
There are important Buddhist archaeological remains on the islands of Fiyoaree, Gan, Vādū and others. These ruins consist mainly of large ruined stupas. The stupa in Gan was partially explored by Thor Heyerdahl's archaeologists in recent test-excavations. However, all other ruins have not been well researched yet.
Referencesedit
^Tim Godfrey, Atlas of the Maldives, Atoll Editions 2004
^. MaldiveIsle.com. 2006-04-02. Archived from the original on 2006-12-28. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
gaafu, dhaalu, atoll, gaafu, dhaalu, also, known, southern, huvadhu, atoll, huvadhu, atholhu, dhekunuburi, administrative, district, maldives, formed, southwestern, section, huvadhu, atoll, created, february, 1962, when, huvadhu, atoll, divided, into, district. Gaafu Dhaalu also known as Southern Huvadhu Atoll or Huvadhu Atholhu Dhekunuburi ހ ވ ދ އ ތ ޅ ދ ކ ނ ބ ރ is an administrative district of the Maldives formed by the southwestern section of Huvadhu Atoll It was created on February 8 1962 when Huvadhu Atoll was divided into two districts Gaafu Dhaalu corresponds to the Southwestern section of this large natural atoll south of the line extending between the channels of Footukandu and Vaarulu Kandu The capital of this region is Thinadhoo Thenadhoo There are 153 islands in this district 10 of which are inhabited This district is located about 340 kilometers south of the capital Male Gaafu Dhaalu Atollatoll of the MaldivesCountryMaldivesCorresponding geographic atoll s Huvadhu Atholhu DhekunuburiLocation0 28 N and 0 10 NCapitalThinadhooPopulation Total11 587Letter codeQDhivehi letter codeGDh ގދ Number of islands153 Inhabited islandsFares Maathodaa Fiyoari Gaddhoo Hoandeddhoo Madaveli Nadellaa Rathafandhoo Vaadhoo Thinadhoo Uninhabited islandsAakiraahuttaa Athihuttaa Badefodiyaa Barahuttaa Baulhagallaa Bodehuttaa Boderehaa Bolimathaidhoo Dhekanbaa Dherekudhehaa Dhigerehaa Dhigulaabadhoo Dhinmanaa Dhiyanigilllaa Dhonigallaa Dhoonirehaa Ehehuttaa Ekelondaa Faahuttaa Faanahuttaa Faathiyehuttaa Farehulhudhoo Farukoduhuttaa Fatefandhoo Femunaidhoo Fenevenehuttaa Fereythavilingillaa Fonahigillaa Gaazeeraa Gan Huvadhu Atoll Resort islands airports and industrial islands are also considered uninhabited Haa Alifu Haa Dhaalu Shaviyani Noonu Raa Baa Kaafu etc including Gaafu Dhaalu are code letters assigned to the present administrative divisions of the Maldives They are not the proper names of the natural atolls that make up these divisions Some atolls are divided into two administrative divisions while other divisions are made up of two or more natural atolls The order followed by the code letters is from North to South beginning with the first letters of the Thaana alphabet used in Dhivehi These code letters are not accurate from the geographical and cultural point of view However they have become popular among tourists and foreigners in the Maldives who find them easier to pronounce than the true atoll names in Dhivehi save a few exceptions like Ari Atoll 1 Contents 1 History 2 Archaeology 3 References 4 External linksHistory editHistorically the Huvadhu Atoll chief had a great measure of self government He even had the privilege not granted to any other atoll chief of the Maldives to fly his own flag in his vessels and at his residence In January 1959 the three southern atolls Huvadhu Fuvahmulah and Addu were involved in setting up the breakaway United Suvadive Republic which survived until September 1963 The name of the secessionist state was taken from the ancient name of this atoll In some islands like Gaddhu there was opposition to the secession and by means of threats and arson the groups of people opposing the Suvadive state were forced to agree Havaru Thinadhoo was burnt down by soldiers sent by then Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir from Male during the secession in 1962 after which it was left uninhabited for four whole years The Kaadedhdhoo Domestic Airport located on the formerly uninhabited island of Kaadedhdhoo was opened in 1993 In 2006 the Tourism Ministry of Maldives released the island of Vatavarrehaa for tourist resort development A 150 bed resort is planned this is the first resort to be built in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll 2 Archaeology editThere are important Buddhist archaeological remains on the islands of Fiyoaree Gan Vadu and others These ruins consist mainly of large ruined stupas The stupa in Gan was partially explored by Thor Heyerdahl s archaeologists in recent test excavations However all other ruins have not been well researched yet References edit Tim Godfrey Atlas of the Maldives Atoll Editions 2004 Ten New Islands Placed on Bid for Tourist Resort Development MaldiveIsle com 2006 04 02 Archived from the original on 2006 12 28 Retrieved 2007 01 20 Masters Tom Maldives Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd ISBN 1 74059 977 2 Hasan A Maniku The Islands of Maldives Novelty Male 1983 Bell H C P The Maldive islands Monograph on the History Archaeology and Epigraphy Reprint 1940 edn Male 1986 Xavier Romero Frias The Maldive Islanders A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom Barcelona 1999 Skjolsvold Arne Archaeological Test Excavations On The Maldive Islands The Kon Tiki Museum Occasional Papers Vol 2 Oslo 1991 External links editMinistry of Atolls Development Satellite Overlay of Inhabited Islands of Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll 0 25 N 73 10 E 0 417 N 73 167 E 0 417 73 167 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll amp oldid 1185507445, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
