NORTHERN ATOLLS

143 Uligamu (popula- © Lonely Planet Lonely © , the next largest , the next largest Dhidhdhoo Huvarafushi The capital island is The second northernmost island, (population 267) is the ‘clear-in’ port for (population 267) is the ‘clear-in’ and immigra- – it has health yachts private as well as National Securitytion officers Service should so yachts (NSS) personnel, all formalities here to complete be able (see study, p181). Following a feasibility decided to establish has a the government marina in the Northern Atolls, but yacht Uligamu has been ruled out for financial and environmental reasons. for good anchorage offers tion 2500), which passing yachts. for its island (population 2200), is noted

About 200km beyond Ihavandhippolhu Atoll, at the country’s northernAbout 200km beyond Ihavandhippolhu Atoll, tip, lie the Lak- In the Northern Atolls there are only 16 functioning resorts at present, making only 16 functioning resorts at present, this an are In the Northern there Atolls There’s also huge diving potential throughout the region; there are wrecks along along wrecks are there throughout the region; also huge diving potential There’s Maldivian history owes much to this partMaldivian history owes the – Mohammed Thakurufaanu, of the country

traditional Maldivian life. life. traditional Maldivian unknown by foreigners, and this is a great place to visit for a taste of untouched, of untouched, a taste place to visit for and this is a great unknown by foreigners, earmarked for development by the government. These atolls remain almost totally almost totally atolls remain These by the government. earmarked for development further north that have been gradually opening up to tourism as new islands are further northup to tourism as new islands are been gradually opening that have the three atolls directly to the north of North Male’ Atoll, there are another six even to the north another six even atolls directly are of Norththe three there Male’ Atoll, island escapism territory. While traditionally the tourism zone has only ever included included zone has only ever While traditionally the tourism island escapism territory. The least developed region of the , the Northern Atolls are pure tropical tropical pure the Northern are of the Maldives, Atolls region least developed The down to the Chagos Archipelago. down to the Chagos Archipelago. mostly submerged Laccadive-Chagos and extends mostly submerged all of the Maldives ridge that underlies the Laccadives, these islands are now Indian territory, but geologically they are part they are of the but geologically now Indian territory, these islands are the Laccadives, shadweep Islands, which have had a long association with the Maldives. Formerly known as had a long association with the Maldives. shadweep Islands, which have Dhaal and Shaviyani Atolls. Dhaal and Shaviyani Atolls. here, with a number of islands earmarked for development in previously tourist-free Haa Haa tourist-free in previously islands earmarked with a number of for development here, uncrowded and truly remote part to visit. Tourism is slowly set to expand of the country uncrowded and truly remote and documented. the western fringe of the atolls, but these are only now being properly explored only now being properly explored fringe of the atolls, but these are the western come to see his small wooden mansion. come to see his small wooden in , which remains a place of historical pilgrimage today for who a place of historical which remains in Haa Alif Atoll, man who drove the Portuguese the 16th century, was born on the island of out in man who drove Traditionally known as Ihavandhippolhu Traditionally known as Ihavandhippolhu and North Thiladhunmathee Atolls, the is generally the Maldives northern tip of very Alif Atoll, even known to one and all as Haa dis- to an administrative though this refers trict that actually comprises the small, trap- Atoll and ezoid-shaped Ihavandhippolhu North Thiladhunmathee the northern tip of is- inhabited 16 have together Atoll, which just under 14,000. lands and a population of the Lak- island of On , the largest shadweep Islands, people speak a language under- and readily similar to Divehi very themselves. language stand the Maldivian HAA ALIF HAA ALIF Northern Atolls ὄὄ ὄὄ

NORTHERN ATOLLS 144 4 6 1 3 2 5 NORTHERN ATOLLS NORTERN ATOLLS NORTERN MAAMAKUNUDHOO MAALHOSMADULU MAALHOSMADULU ὄὄὄ ὄὄὄ ὄὄὄ ὄὄὄ ὄ ὄὄ ὄ ὄὄ ATOLL NORTH AC ATOLL THILADHUNMATHEE SOUTH ATOLL Kandholhudhoo ATOLL SOUTH ATOLL MILADHUNMADULU Makunudhoo Kudamuraidhoo Vaikaradhoo Huvarafushi NORTH ATOLL Lundhufushi Naagoashi Maanenfushi BAA ὄ ὄ ὄ ὄ ὄ ὄὄὄ ὄ ὄ ὄὄὄ Gaakoshibi RAA Gallandhoo Kandu DHAAL Kanditheemu HAA 107m Faridhoo Eththigili Uligamu 1 Goidhoo Utheemu B Gaaundoodhoo HAA ALIF 45m Iguraidhoo Ugoofaaru Hondaafushi Dhidhdhoo 45m Narudhoo SHAVIYANI IHAVANDHIPPOLHU Kumundhoo Kulhuduffushi 4 Nolhivaram Kambaalifaru ATOLL Vagaru Nolhivaramfaru ὄ ὄ ὄ ὄὄὄ ὄ ὄ ὄὄὄ ὄ ὄ Maavelavaru 6 45m 2 Ekulhivaru Alidhoo Hanimaadhoo 45m NOONU Nalandhoo Maakadoodhoo Farukolhu I NDA Kurendhoo O CEAN 82m Funadhoo THILADHUNMATHEE See NorthernTourismZoneMap(p148) Baraveli Kandu 3 Randheli Huvandhumaavattaru 107m Maafilaafushi 5 NORTH 0 0 ὄ ὄ ὄ ὄ 57m KAAFU SLEEPING Maldives...... Zitahli Kuda-FanafaruMaldives...... Irufushi Beach&SpaResort...... Cinnamon IslandResort&Spa...... Beach HouseatManafaru...... Zitahli Resort&SpaDholhiyadhoo B1 Island Hideaway...... Olhuvelifushi FAADHIPPOLHU MILADHUNMADULU To Male' (70km) ATOLL SOUTH ATOLL Tourism Zone Administrative Districts lonelyplanet.com D 30 miles 50 km 6 5 4 3 2 1 B3 C4 C4 B1 B1