Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll
Encyclopedia
Southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll (code name Baa) is an administrative division of the Maldives
. It consists of two separate natural atolls, namely the southern part of Maalhosmadulhu Atoll (which is 42km long and 32km wide and consists of 10 inhabited islands) and the smaller natural atoll known as Goifulhafehendhu Atoll
(Horsburgh Atoll
in the Admiralty charts).
Situated on the west of the Maldives atoll chain, it consists of 75 islands of which 13 are inhabited with a population of over 11,000 people. The remaining 57 islands are uninhabited, in addition to five islands being developed as resorts.
Thulhaadhoo Island is traditionally well-known for its lacquerwork handicrafts.
found in the Maldives, including large mangroves and a unique diversity of fauna, such as the benthic fauna. Furthermore, the ring-shaped reef forms known as faru in the local language
is a reef
structure which is unique to the Maldives
.
The southernmost uninhabited island of Olhugiri
in the Baa atoll lies 13 km north of Goifulhafehendhu Atoll
. Olhugiri is well-known for its unique natural vegetation and for providing two of the only perching sites for the Great Frigatebird
in the Maldives. Likewise, other marine creatures such as seaturtles and hawksbill turtles can be encountered.
The Fisheries Ministry of the Maldives has banned catching turtles or taking eggs from Olhugiri, which also applies to 11 other islands.
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
. It consists of two separate natural atolls, namely the southern part of Maalhosmadulhu Atoll (which is 42km long and 32km wide and consists of 10 inhabited islands) and the smaller natural atoll known as Goifulhafehendhu Atoll
Goidhoo (Baa Atoll)
Goidhoo is one of the inhabited islands of Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll, code letter "Baa".-Historical facts:In the 19th century, a female African slave who had been bought by the king on his Hajj trip to Mecca was formally released from slavery and was settled in Goidhu island. A house and a...
(Horsburgh Atoll
Goidhoo (Baa Atoll)
Goidhoo is one of the inhabited islands of Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll, code letter "Baa".-Historical facts:In the 19th century, a female African slave who had been bought by the king on his Hajj trip to Mecca was formally released from slavery and was settled in Goidhu island. A house and a...
in the Admiralty charts).
Situated on the west of the Maldives atoll chain, it consists of 75 islands of which 13 are inhabited with a population of over 11,000 people. The remaining 57 islands are uninhabited, in addition to five islands being developed as resorts.
Thulhaadhoo Island is traditionally well-known for its lacquerwork handicrafts.
Ecology
Maalhosmadulhu Atoll is also considered as a good example of the rich biodiversityBiodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
found in the Maldives, including large mangroves and a unique diversity of fauna, such as the benthic fauna. Furthermore, the ring-shaped reef forms known as faru in the local language
Dhivehi language
Maldivian is an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Maldives where it is the national language. It is also the first language of nearly 10,000 people in the island of Minicoy in the Union territory of Lakshadweep, India where the Mahl dialect of the Maldivian...
is a reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
structure which is unique to the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
.
The southernmost uninhabited island of Olhugiri
Olhugiri
Olhugiri as a place name may refer to:* Olhugiri * Olhugiri * Olhugiri...
in the Baa atoll lies 13 km north of Goifulhafehendhu Atoll
Goidhoo (Baa Atoll)
Goidhoo is one of the inhabited islands of Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll, code letter "Baa".-Historical facts:In the 19th century, a female African slave who had been bought by the king on his Hajj trip to Mecca was formally released from slavery and was settled in Goidhu island. A house and a...
. Olhugiri is well-known for its unique natural vegetation and for providing two of the only perching sites for the Great Frigatebird
Great Frigatebird
The Great Frigatebird is a large dispersive seabird in the frigatebird family. Major nesting populations are found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as a population in the South Atlantic....
in the Maldives. Likewise, other marine creatures such as seaturtles and hawksbill turtles can be encountered.
The Fisheries Ministry of the Maldives has banned catching turtles or taking eggs from Olhugiri, which also applies to 11 other islands.
External links
- http://www.baa.gov.mv
- News report on banning the capturing of turtles
- Facts and figures about Baa Atoll