Atolls of the Maldives

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The Maldives consist of a total of 26 atolls .

Connection with the administrative structure of the Maldives

Since 2010, the Maldives has been divided into 19 “administrative atolls” . The island of Malé (then the capital Malé ) together with three other islands - although geographically part of the North Malé Atoll - does not belong to any administrative atoll . The Addu Atoll how Malé city status.

geography

Geographic atolls

The 26 atolls of the Maldives form two almost parallel chains running from north to south.

From a geographical point of view, three groups of atolls, which are separated from each other by “channels” of different widths running in east-west directions (safe, because reef-free crossings), can be distinguished. The term degree means the approximate geographical latitude of the respective channel.

  • North of the Maldives is the island of Minicoy , separated from the Maldives by the
    • Eight Degree Channel, Maliku Kandu , Māmalē Kandu , Minicoy Channel, formerly Addigiri Kandu.
  • Boduthilamathi (northern group)
  • Medhuraajjé (central group)
  • Suvadinmathi (southern group)

The southern group is cut by the equatorial channel, Equatorial Channel Addu Kandu , in the middle of which is the island of Fuvahmulah , which is considered the (19th) atoll.

The Chagos Archipelago lies 500 km south of the Maldives on the same ridge .

Overview

The following table lists the 26 geographical atolls and indicates for each of them the affiliation with administrative atoll (s) (the submarine bank Medhuthila is included for the sake of completeness). The eight cases of an exact correspondence between geographical atoll and administrative atoll / city are marked with a light green background color.

Geographic atoll Name variants group East
west 		belongs to administrative atoll (s):
Ihavandhippolhu Boduthilamathi east Haa Alif
Thiladhunmathi-Miladummadulhu Tiladummati, Boduthiladhunmathi Boduthilamathi east Haa Alif, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu
Maamakunudhoo Makunudhoo Boduthilamathi west Haa Dhaalu
Alifushi Powell Islands Boduthilamathi west Raa
North Maalhosmadulu North Maalhosmadulu Boduthilamathi west Raa
Fasdhūtherē Middle Maalhosmadulu Boduthilamathi west Baa
South Maalhosmadulu South Maalhosmadulu Boduthilamathi west Baa
Faadhippolhu Boduthilamathi east Lhaviyani
Goidhoo Goifulhafehendhu, Goidu, Horsburgh Islands Boduthilamathi west Baa
Kaashidhoo Kaashidhu Medhuraajjé east Kaafu
Gaafaru Gahaafaru Medhuraajjé east Kaafu
North Male Medhuraajjé east Kaafu, Malé (capital)
South Male Medhuraajjé east Kaafu
Thoddoo Medhuraajjé west Alif Alif
Rasdhoo Rasdhu, Rasdhukuramathi, Ross Islands Medhuraajjé west Alif Alif
Ari Medhuraajjé west Alif Alif, Alif Dhaal
Felidhu Medhuraajjé east Vaavu
Vattaru Vattaru Faru Medhuraajjé east Vaavu
Mulaku Mulak Medhuraajjé east Meemu
North Nilandhe Medhuraajjé west Faafu
South Nilandhe Medhuraajjé west Dhaalu
Kolhumadulu Medhuraajjé west Thaa
Haddhunmathi Medhuraajjé west Laamu
Huvadhu Huvadhoo, Suvadiva Suvadinmathi west Gaafu Alif, Gaafu Dhaalu
Fuvahmulah Fua Mulaku Suvadinmathi west Gnaviyani
Addu Seenu Suvadinmathi west Seenu (Addu City)
Medhuthila (submarine) Medutila, Derahaa Suvadinmathi west Gaafu Alif

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