Haa Alif Atoll

Haa Alif Atoll is the code name based on the letters of the Maldivian alphabet commonly used to refer to the administrative division officially known as North Thiladhunmathi Atoll (Maldivian: Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi) in the Maldives.

Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi ތިލަދުންމަތީ އުތުރުބުރި
atoll of the Maldives
Haa Alif Atoll
Utheemu Ganduvaru in Utheemu Island.
Haa Alif Atoll in Maldives.
Country	Maldives
Seat	Dhidhdhoo
Geographic atolls	2 atolls Ihavandhippolhu North Thiladhunmathi
Government
• Council	North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council
Population  (2006)
• Total	12,939
Time zone	UTC+05:00 (MST)
Assigned Letter	A
(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

It is the northernmost of the 19 administrative divisions (known as "Atolls") of the country, and is the third-largest administrative division in terms of population and land area.

This administrative division consists of Ihavandhippolhu, the northernmost geographical atoll of the Maldive archipelago, and the northern section of Thiladhunmathi atoll. The capital of North Thiladhunmathi Atoll is the island of Dhidhdhoo where the Secretariat of North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council is located.

Geography

The Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll administrative division consists of a total of 43 islands spread over two natural geographic atolls, namely Northern Thiladhunmathi, and Ihavandhippolhu.

Northern Thiladhunmathi is the northernmost portion of the huge Thiladhunmathi Atoll. Thiladhunmathi Atoll was administratively divided into northern and southern divisions in 1958.

Ihavandhippolhu lies to the north of Northern Thiladhunmathi, with the Ihavandhoo Kandu channel separating the two, and is the northernmost atoll of the Maldives. It is a small natural atoll 22 km in length. It has 25 islands lying all around the boundary reef. One long barrier reef forms the western side of the atoll. There are several coral patches in the lagoon and the general depth in the centre is 20 to 30 fathoms (35 to 55 m).

Ihavandhippolhu is separated from the Lakshadweep Islands of India by the broad channel known as Māmalē Kandu (or Maliku Kandu).

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   Baarah   Dhidhdhoo   Filladhoo   Hoarafushi   Ihavandhoo   Kelaa   Maarandhoo   Mulhadhoo   Muraidhoo   Thakandhoo   Thuraakunu   Uligamu   Utheemu   Vashafaru

Islands

Of the 43 islands in the North Thiladhunmathi Atoll administrative division, 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 which has its headquarters on Dhidhdhoo.

Island constituencies

Name	Population (2006)	Education	Health	Political ward	Coordinates	Geographic Atoll	Remarks
Baarah	1,203	K-10	1 health centre	A03 Baarah	6°49′8″N 73°12′30″E / 6.81889°N 73.20833°E / 6.81889; 73.20833	North Thiladhunmati
Dhidhdhoo	2,512	K-11	1 hospital	A04 Dhidhdhoo	6°53′24″N 73°6′44″E / 6.89000°N 73.11222°E / 6.89000; 73.11222	North Thiladhunmati	Capital of North Thiladhunmati Atoll
Filladhoo	548	K-10	1 health centre	A05 Kelaa	6°52′38″N 73°13′39″E / 6.87722°N 73.22750°E / 6.87722; 73.22750	North Thiladhunmati
Hoarafushi	2,204	K-12	1 health centre	A01 Hoarafushi	6°58′50″N 72°53′45″E / 6.98056°N 72.89583°E / 6.98056; 72.89583	Ihavandhippolhu
Ihavandhoo	2,447	K-12	1 health centre	A02 Ihavandhoo	6°57′17″N 72°55′33″E / 6.95472°N 72.92583°E / 6.95472; 72.92583	Ihavandhippolhu
Kelaa	1,200	K-10	1 health centre	A05 Kelaa	6°57′35″N 73°12′46″E / 6.95972°N 73.21278°E / 6.95972; 73.21278	North Thiladhunmati
Maarandhoo	530	K-10	1 health centre	A02 Ihavandhoo	6°51′18″N 72°58′59″E / 6.85500°N 72.98306°E / 6.85500; 72.98306	Ihavandhippolhu
Mulhadhoo	172	K-8	1 health provider	A02 Ihavandhoo	7°00′45″N 72°59′45″E / 7.01250°N 72.99583°E / 7.01250; 72.99583	Ihavandhippolhu
Muraidhoo	451	K-10	1 health centre	A03 Baarah	6°50′23″N 73°09′54″E / 6.83972°N 73.16500°E / 6.83972; 73.16500	North Thiladhunmati
Thakandhoo	340	K-9	1 health centre	A03 Baarah	6°50′44″N 72°59′38″E / 6.84556°N 72.99389°E / 6.84556; 72.99389	North Thiladhunmati
Thuraakunu	347	K-10	1 health centre	A01 Hoarafushi	7°06′18″N 72°54′07″E / 7.10500°N 72.90194°E / 7.10500; 72.90194	Ihavandhippolhu	Northernmost island in the country.
Uligamu	267	K-10	1 health centre	A01 Hoarafushi	7°05′00″N 72°55′40″E / 7.08333°N 72.92778°E / 7.08333; 72.92778	Ihavandhippolhu
Utheemu	521	K-10	1 health centre	A03 Baarah	6°50′04″N 73°06′47″E / 6.83444°N 73.11306°E / 6.83444; 73.11306	North Thiladhunmati	Location of iconic Utheemu Ganduvaru.
Vashafaru	471	K-12	1 health centre	A05 Kelaa	6°53′50″N 73°09′40″E / 6.89722°N 73.16111°E / 6.89722; 73.16111	North Thiladhunmati

Uninhabited Islands

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

Resort Islands

Name	Resort Name	Coordinates	Geographical Atoll	Remarks
Manafaru	JA Manafaru,^[1]	6°59′49″N 72°56′23″E / 6.99694°N 72.93972°E / 6.99694; 72.93972	Ihavandhippolhu	Previous resort was The Beach House Iruveli (Waldorf Astoria Maldives)
Berinmadhoo	Construction in progress	7°02′50″N 72°58′16″E / 7.04722°N 72.97111°E / 7.04722; 72.97111	Ihavandhippolhu	Was previously inhabited. Population relocated to Hoarafushi.
Dhonakulhi	Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa Maldives^[2]	6°50′35″N 73°03′05″E / 6.84306°N 73.05139°E / 6.84306; 73.05139	North Thiladhunmati
Alidhoo	J Resort Alidhoo^[3]	6°50′55″N 73°09′07″E / 6.84861°N 73.15194°E / 6.84861; 73.15194	North Thiladhunmati

Other Uninhabited Islands

Name	Current usage	Coordinates	Geographical Atoll	Remarks
Alidhuffarufinolhu	-	6°51′39″N 73°06′16″E / 6.86083°N 73.10444°E / 6.86083; 73.10444	North Thiladhunmati
Beenaafushi	-	6°55′42″N 73°08′11″E / 6.92833°N 73.13639°E / 6.92833; 73.13639	North Thiladhunmati
Dhapparuhura	-	6°54′55″N 73°12′40″E / 6.91528°N 73.21111°E / 6.91528; 73.21111	North Thiladhunmati
Dhigufaruhura	-	6°55′26″N 72°58′08″E / 6.92389°N 72.96889°E / 6.92389; 72.96889	North Thiladhunmati
Gaafushi	-	6°51′07″N 73°03′27″E / 6.85194°N 73.05750°E / 6.85194; 73.05750	North Thiladhunmati
Gaamathikulhudhoo	-	7°02′21″N 72°59′04″E / 7.03917°N 72.98444°E / 7.03917; 72.98444	Ihavandhippolhu
Gallandhoo	-	6°56′48″N 72°58′59″E / 6.94667°N 72.98306°E / 6.94667; 72.98306	Ihavandhippolhu
Govvaafushi	-	7°00′45″N 72°55′09″E / 7.01250°N 72.91917°E / 7.01250; 72.91917	Ihavandhippolhu
Hathifushi	-	7°01′12″N 72°49′49″E / 7.02000°N 72.83028°E / 7.02000; 72.83028	Ihavandhippolhu	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	Ihavandhippolhu
Innafinolhu	-	7°04′25″N 72°48′40″E / 7.07361°N 72.81111°E / 7.07361; 72.81111	Ihavandhippolhu
Kandaalifinolhu	-	6°55′35″N 73°07′48″E / 6.92639°N 73.13000°E / 6.92639; 73.13000	North Thiladhunmati
Kudafinolhu	-	6°59′22″N 72°53′00″E / 6.98944°N 72.88333°E / 6.98944; 72.88333	Ihavandhippolhu
Maafahi	Fisheries	6°49′42″N 73°09′23″E / 6.82833°N 73.15639°E / 6.82833; 73.15639	North Thiladhunmati	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	Ihavandhippolhu
Maarandhoofarufinolhu	-	6°49′43″N 72°58′19″E / 6.82861°N 72.97194°E / 6.82861; 72.97194	North Thiladhunmati
Madulu	Agriculture	7°03′17″N 72°57′11″E / 7.05472°N 72.95306°E / 7.05472; 72.95306	Ihavandhippolhu	Leased for long-term fisheries and agriculture.
Matheerah	-	7°01′39″N 72°49′08″E / 7.02750°N 72.81889°E / 7.02750; 72.81889	Ihavandhippolhu
Medhafushi	Agriculture	7°00′38″N 72°56′02″E / 7.01056°N 72.93389°E / 7.01056; 72.93389	Ihavandhippolhu	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	North Thiladhunmati
Naridhoo	Resort (Development)	6°53′42″N 73°07′36″E / 6.89500°N 73.12667°E / 6.89500; 73.12667	North Thiladhunmati
Umareifinolhu	-	7°00′34″N 72°51′03″E / 7.00944°N 72.85083°E / 7.00944; 72.85083	Ihavandhippolhu
Un'gulifinolhu	-	6°58′15″N 72°54′03″E / 6.97083°N 72.90083°E / 6.97083; 72.90083	Ihavandhippolhu
Van'gaaru	-	7°05′35″N 72°52′41″E / 7.09306°N 72.87806°E / 7.09306; 72.87806	Ihavandhippolhu
Velifinolhu	-	6°59′39″N 72°52′28″E / 6.99417°N 72.87444°E / 6.99417; 72.87444	Ihavandhippolhu

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.

• Gasthirifinolhu
• Gudhanfushi
• Huraa
• Nasfaru
• Thiladhoo (merged into Dhidhdhoo, it was after this island that the atoll got its name of 'Thiladhunmathi')
• Thinadhoo

Administration

Atoll Council

North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council
Type
Type	Atoll council
Leadership
President	Moosa Shafeeq, MDP
Seats	14
Meeting place
Secretariat of the North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council, Shaariu’l Ameen, Dhidhdhoo
Website
www.halifatoll.gov.mv

The North Thiladhunmathi Atoll administrative division is governed by an Atoll Council. The atoll council was created in 2011 with the enactment of the Decentralization Bill, which saw the introduction of local governance to the country. The secretariat of the atoll council is located on Dhidhdhoo.

The atoll is further divided up into 5 political wards each with one councillor.

Members

Ward	Code	Name	Elected	Party
Hoarafushi	A06	Mohamed Waheed	2021	MDP
Ihavandhoo	A07	Ahmed Sabah	2021	PPM
Baarah	A16	Safath Mohamed	2021	MDP
Dhidhdhoo	A10	Abdulla Rasheed	2021	PPM
Kelaa	A08	Abdulla Infaz	2021	PPM
Vashafaru	A09	Ahmed Mueen	2021	PPM
Utheem	A14	Abdulla Rasheed	2021	PPM
Thuraakunu	A01	Alee Abdulatheef	2021	PPM
Muraidhoo	A15	Alee Sinan	2021	MDP
Filladhoo	A11	Fathulla Hassan	2021	MDP
Thakandhoo	A13	Hussain Naeem	2021	MDP
Maarandhoo	A12	Jailam Haaroon	2021	PPM
Uligan	A02	Ahmed Muaaz Mohamed	2021	ID
Molhadhoo	A05	Mohamed Sinadh	2021	ID

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.

As an administrative division, North Thiladhunmathi Atoll was created when the huge natural Thiladhunmathi Atoll was administratively divided into northern and southern divisions in 1958.

References

1. "JA Manafaru". JA Resorts & Hotels. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
2. "Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa". Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
3. "J Resort Alidhoo". J Resorts & Hotels Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2018-04-30.

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

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