North Male Atoll

North Male Atoll
	NASA satellite image of the North Malé Atoll
Waters	Lakkadive Sea ; (Indian Ocean)
archipelago	Maldives
Geographical location	4 ° 25 ′ N , 73 ° 30 ′ E Coordinates: 4 ° 25 ′ N , 73 ° 30 ′ E
Number of islands	about 50
Main island	Times
Land area	9.4 km²
total area	1 568.18 km²
Residents	107,223 (2006/07)
	North Malé Atoll (in the center) surrounded by South Malé Atoll, Gaafaru Atoll and Kaashidhoo
	Kanifinolhu

The North Malé Atoll is a geographic atoll of the Maldives . The Maldivian capital Malé on the island of Malé in the south of the atoll is part of the atoll. With a total area of 1,568 km², the North Malé Atoll is the fifth largest atoll in the Maldives. Of this, 349 km² are coral reefs and 9.40 km² are on the islands.

description

location

The atoll belongs to the eastern chain of the Maldives and belongs to the central atoll group Medhuraajjé . Immediately north of the atoll are the Gaafaru Atoll and the isolated island of Kaashidhoo , further north is the Faadhippolhu Atoll (also called Lhaviyani Atoll ). In the south, separated by the Vaadhoo Channel , is the South Malé Atoll , the neighboring atolls in the west are the Ari Atoll , the Rasdhoo Atoll and Thoddoo Island .

As everywhere in the Maldives, there is a constantly hot tropical climate characterized by the monsoons .

Description of the islands

The North Malé Atoll consists of about 50 larger islands; the capital Malé and its airport are in the south of the atoll. With 107,223 inhabitants (103,693 of them in the urban area of Malé) (as of 2006/07), the North Malé Atoll is by far the most populous atoll in the state.

Almost all islands are inhabited or used for tourism or industry . With almost 30 tourist islands and the international airport, the atoll is the most visited holiday region in the country, while the city of Malé itself is the political, economic and cultural center of the Maldives.

Administrative division

Administratively, the North Malé Atoll is divided into two administrative districts: the majority of the atoll, together with the South Malé Atoll, Gaafaru and Kaashidhoo, forms the administrative atoll Kaafu with Thulusdhoo as the administrative center, the city island of Malé and the affiliated islands of Villingili , Hulhumalé and the By contrast, the airport island of Hulhulé is administered directly by the government as a special capital region.

Islands of the North Male Atoll

Inhabited islands

Malé (island) , with the capital of the Maldives of the same name
- Hulhumalé , artificial island, district of Malé
- Villingili , also: Vilimalé , district of Malé
- Hulhulé , Malé Airport, part of Malé
- Gulhi Falhu , harbor island under construction, part of Malé

Dhiffushi
Himmafushi
Huraa
Thulusdhoo , capital of Kaafu County
- Huraagandu , planned as Thulusdhoo-Huraagandu part of Thulusdhoo, a dam between the islands

Tourist islands

Asdhoo , also: Asdu Sun Island
Baros
Bodubandos , also: Bandos
Boduhithi , also: Coco Palm
Eriyadhoo , also: Eriyadu
Farukolhufushi , in short: Faru
Furanafushi , in short: Furana , also: Furan-nafushi or touristic Full Moon Beach
Gasfinolhu
Giraavaru , also: Giravaru
Helengeli
Hembadhoo , also: Taj Coral Reef
Ihuru , also: Angsana Ihuru
Kanifinolhu
Kanuhuraa , also: Kanuhura
Kudahithi
Kudahuraa , also: Kuda Huraa
Lankanfinolhu , also: Paradise Island
Lankanfushi , also: Soneva Gili
Lhohifushi
Madivaru , also: Banyan Tree Madivaru
Makunudhoo , also: Makunudu
Medhufinolhu , also: Reethi Rah
Meerufenfushi , in short: Meeru
Nakachchaafushi , also: Nakatchafushi , Nakatchaafushi or short: Nakatcha
Thulhaagiri , also: Thulhagiri
Vabbinfaru , also: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru
Vihamanaafushi , also: Kurumba , first hotel island in the Maldives (opened 1972)
Ziyaaraiffushi , also: Summer Island

Uninhabited islands / miscellaneous

Aarah , private residence of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Akirifushi , known for the Akirifushi Corner diving area
Dhoonidhoo , detention center for political opponents, according to Amnesty International
Feydhoofinolhu , prison
Funadhoo , owned by the State Trading Organization , stores fuel
Girifushi , known for the Girifushi Thila diving area