Alif Dhaal Atoll

Alifu Dhaalu Atoll
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Country	Maldives
Corresponding geographic atoll(s)	Ari Atholhu Dhekunuburi
Location	3.85° N and 72.83° E
Capital	Mahibadhoo
Government
• Atoll chief	Mohamed Mahir [1]
Population
• Total	8,145
Letter code	I
Dhivehi letter code	ADh (އދ)
• Number of islands	49
• Inhabited islands	Dhangethi * Dhiddhoo * Dhigurah * Fenfushi * Hagnaameedhoo * Kunburudhoo * Maamingili * Mahibadhoo * Mandhoo * Omadhoo
• Uninhabited islands	Alikoirah, Angaagaa, Ariadhoo, Athurugau, Bodufinolhu, Bodukaashihuraa, Bulhaaholhi, Dhehasanulunboihuraa, Dhiddhoofinolhu, Dhiffushi, Dhiggaru, Enboodhoo, Finolhu, Gasfinolhu, Heenfaru, Hiyafushi, Hukurudhoo, Hurasdhoo, Huruelhi, Huvahendhoo, Innafushi, Kalhuhandhihuraa, Kudadhoo, Kudarah, Maafushivaru, Machchafushi, Medhufinolhu, Mirihi, Moofushi, Nalaguraidhoo, Rahddhiggaa, Rangali, Rangalifinolhu, Rashukolhuhuraa, Theluveligaa, Tholhifushi, Thundufushi, Vakarufalhi, Vilamendhoo, Villingili, Villingilivaru
Resort islands, airports and industrial islands are also considered uninhabited.

Alifu Dhaalu Atoll (also known as Southern Ari Atoll or Ari Atholhu Dhekunuburi) is an administrative division of the Maldives.

The separation of Ari Atoll (formerly Alifu Atoll) on March 1, 1984, into a Northern and a Southern section formed the two most recent administrative divisions of the Maldives, namely Alifu Alifu Atoll and Alifu Dhaalu Atoll. Alifu Dhaalu Atoll lies south of the line between the channels of Himendhoo Dhekunukandu and Genburugau Kandu.

There is a beautiful ancient mosque in Fenfushi island having wooden decorated ceilings and lacquerwork panels.

Buddhist remains, including a stupa, have been found in Ariadhoo Island.

File:Rangalifinolhu maldives.jpg

Rangalifinolhu island in Ari Atoll or Alif Dhaalu Atoll where Conrad-Hilton operates its resort in the Maldives.

NOTE: Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, Baa, Kaafu, etc. (including Alif 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).

References

• 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.