Naifaru (Lhaviyani Atoll)
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Naifaru ނައިފަރު |
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| Inhabited island | |
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 Naifaru
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| Coordinates: 5°26′39.74″N 73°21′56.56″E / 5.4443722°N 73.3657111°ECoordinates: 5°26′39.74″N 73°21′56.56″E / 5.4443722°N 73.3657111°E | |
| Country | Maldives |
| Administrative atoll | Faadhippolhu |
| Distance to Malé | 141.97 km (88.22 mi) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.5553 km2 (0.2144 sq mi) |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 1.112 km (0.691 mi) |
| • Width | 0.725 km (0.450 mi) |
| Population (June 2016) | |
| • Total | 5,319 |
| • Density | 9,600/km2 (25,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC+05:00) |
Naifaru is an island in the Maldives 142 km (88 mi) north of the capital, Malé. It is the capital and most populous island of Lhaviyani Atoll. In Short Lh. Naifaru. Naifaru is famous in the Maldives for its unique dialect.
Naifaru is at 5.4444°′ north latitude and 73.3657°′ east longitude. The total area of Naifaru is 55.5 hectares (0.555 km2), including the part of the island expanded in 2004 by reclaiming the surrounding lagoon of the island.
According to local historian late Ali Hussain, Naifaru has been inhabited for more than 400 years. He concluded this based on some evidences he observed. among these are:
Looking at all these evidences, Ali Hussain concludes Naifaru was inhabited at around 1000 AH (1591 CE).
Ali Hussain also saw a written document which says that when islands like Dhiffushimaidhoo and Huruvalhi were inhabited islands, Naifaru and Madivaru were uninhabited islands leased to a citizen of Huruvalhi. And he had employed a group of people from Raa Atoll Kothaafaru to get toddy from palm trees of Naifaru and Madivaru. And when a fight broke out in Huruvalhi, he came to Naifaru with his family and inhabited it. Ali Hussain says, he neither accepts this narration nor rejects it.
At 1931 Naifaru had a population of around 1800; in 1979 it has increased to 2810.
As of the 2006 census, Naifaru had population of 3,687, contributing 1.23% of total population of the country. Compared to the 2000 census, Naifaru had a slightly negative population growth (-0.09%). This negative change is due to emigration to the Capital. As of 31 December 2008, Naifaru had a registered population of 4720. As of 31 May 2013 it has increased to 5082. The population as of June 2016 stands at 5319.
In the latest census conducted in 2014, Naifaru recorded a residing population of 4141 people. this includes 3844 Maldivians and 297 foreigners.
Naifaru is the 6th most populous town in the Maldives after Malé, Addu City, Fuvahmulah, Kulhudhuffushi, and Thinadhoo.
Fishing has been the major income generator for the islanders since the beginning. the location of the first tuna canning factory in the Maldives was selected to be the nearby island of Felivaru due to the high number of catch by Naifarians. Fishing is still a major income generator for the island, although working in resort islands has gained popularity among the youth in the last few years.
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Wikipedia