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Huvahandhoo

Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi
ތިލަދުންމަތީ އުތުރުބުރި
Atoll
Haa Alif Atoll
Utheemu Ganduvaru in Utheemu Island.
Utheemu Ganduvaru in Utheemu Island.
Haa Alif Atoll in Maldives.
Haa Alif Atoll in Maldives.
Country Maldives
Capital Dhidhdhoo
Geographic atolls
Government
 • Council North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council
Population (2006)
 • Total 12,939
Time zone MST (UTC+05:00)
Assigned Letter A
Assigned Letter (Dhivehi) ހއ
Area code(s) 650, 20
ISO 3166 code MV-07
Inhabited 14 - Baarah * Dhidhdhoo * Filladhoo * Hoarafushi * Ihavandhoo * Kelaa * Maarandhoo * Mulhadhoo * Muraidhoo * Thakandhoo * Thuraakunu * Uligamu * Utheemu * Vashafaru
Uninhabited 29 - Alidhoo, Alidhuffarufinolhu, Beenaafushi, Berinmadhoo, Dhapparuhura, Dhigufaruhura, Dhonakulhi, Gaafushi, Gaamathikulhudhoo, Gallandhoo, Govvaafushi, Hathifushi, Huvahandhoo, Innafinolhu, Kandaalifinolhu, Kudafinolhu, Maafahi, Maafinolhu, Maarandhoofarufinolhu, Madulu, Manafaru, Matheerah, Medhafushi, Mulidhoo, Naridhoo, Umareifinolhu, Un'gulifinolhu, Van'gaaru, Velifinolhu
Total 43
Website Haa Alif Atoll
North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
President
Ahmed Rishwan, MDP
Seats 10
Meeting place
Secretariat of the North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council,
Shaariu’l Ameen,
Dhidhdhoo
Website
www.halifatoll.gov.mv

Haa Alif Atoll (also known as Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll or Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi) is the northernmost of the 19 administrative atolls of the Maldives.

Geographically, this atoll consists of Ihavandhippolhu, the northernmost geographical atoll of the Maldive archipelago, and the northern section of Thiladhunmathi atoll, which was administratively divided into northern and southern divisions in 1958. The atoll's official name, 'North Thiladhunmathi' is in reference to this division. Today, Haa Alif Atoll contains 43 islands, 14 of which are inhabited and classified as 'island-class' constituencies. Haa Alif Atoll is the third-largest atoll in the Maldives in terms of population and land area.

The capital of Haa Alif Atoll, and the location of the Secretariat of North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council is the island of Dhidhdhoo.

In Matheerah there is a famous shrine (ziyaraiy, mausoleum) which was visited formerly by the Maldive kings and their families in order to seek blessings. Such tomb visits are aspects of Sufism that existed among the Maldivians until very recent times. Hence this island was referred to with the honorific title Matheerahffulhu (High (noble) Island) by the Sufi Muslims of the Maldives at that time.

Traditionally the northernmost atoll of the Maldives was Minicoy (Maliku). Fishermen from Thuraakunu and from Minicoy often crossed the Maliku Kandu on their boats to visit each other's islands. Marriage alliances were common. Now Minicoy is a part of India and communication is highly restricted.

Haa Alif Atoll contains 43 islands. 14 of them are inhabited, and are classified as administrative island constituencies. Each of these constituencies have an 'island council' which responds to the North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council.


All uninhabited islands in Haa Alif Atoll are under the control of the North Thiladhunmathi Atoll Council.


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Wikipedia

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