Kaafu Atoll

"Bandos" redirects here. For the horse, see Bandos (horse).

Kaafu Atoll is the code name given to an administrative division in the Republic of Maldives which consists of the geographical atolls of Kaashidhoo Island, Gaafaru, North Malé Atoll and South Malé Atoll. As the two Malé Atolls are the main islands of the administrative district, the entire Kaafu Atoll administrative division is officially named Malé Atoll or Malé Atolhu in the Dhivehi language.

Kaafu Atoll
Atoll of the Maldives
Malé Atoll
Location of Kaafu in Maldives
Country	Maldives
Corresponding geographic atoll(s)	Malé Atoll
Location	4°25′N 73°30′E
Capital	Thulusdhoo
Government
• Type	Atoll Council
• President of Atoll Council	Mohamed Nimal[1]
Population
• Total	19,238
Letter code	H
Dhivehi letter code	K (ކ)
• Number of islands	107
• Inhabited islands	Dhiffushi Gaafaru Gulhi Guraidhoo Himmafushi Huraa Kaashidhoo Maafushi Malé Thulusdhoo
• Uninhabited islands and Male’	Aarah, Akirifushi, Asdhoo*, Baros*, Biyaadhoo*, male’,Bodubandos*, Bodufinolhu*, Boduhithi*, Boduhuraa, Bolifushi*, Dhigufinolhu, Dhoonidhoo, Ehrruh-haa, Enboodhoo*, Enboodhoofinolhu*, Eriyadhoo*, Farukolhufushi*, Feydhoofinolhu, Fihalhohi*, Funadhoo, Furan-nafushi*, Gasfinolhu*, Giraavaru*, Girifushi, Gulheegaathuhuraa, Helengeli*, Henbadhoo*, Huraagandu, Ihuru*, Kagi, Kalhuhuraa, Kandoomaafushi*, Kanduoih-giri, Kanifinolhu*, Kanuhuraa*, Kudabandos, Kudafinolhu, Kudahithi*, Kudahuraa, Lankanfinolhu*, Lankanfushi*, Lhohifushi*, Lhosfushi, Maadhoo, Madivaru, Mahaanaélhihuraa*, Makunudhoo*, Makunufushi, Maniyafushi, Medhufinolhu*, Meerufenfushi*, Nakachchaafushi*, Olhahali, Olhuveli*, Oligandufinolhu, Ran-naalhi*, Rasfari, Thanburudhoo, Thulhaagiri*, Vaadhoo*, Vaagali, Vabbinfaru*, Vabboahuraa, Vammaafushi, Velassaru*, Velifaru, Veliganduhuraa, Vihamanaafushi*, Villingilimathidhahuraa, Villingilivau*, Ziyaaraiffushi*
Resort islands(*), airports(¤) and industrial islands are also considered uninhabited.

The capital of the administrative division is Thulusdhoo.

Although Malé, the capital of the Maldives, and the adjacent islands of Vilingili, Hulhule and Hulhumalé, are geographically part of the North Malé Atoll, they do not form part of the Kaafu Atoll administrative division and are a separate administrative division.

Kaafu or Malé Atoll

Kaafu is a code letter of the Thaana alphabet used in the Dhivehi language assigned to one of the administrative divisions of the Maldives which is officially and traditionally known by the name Malé Atoll. The Thaana alphabet code names are not the names of the natural or geographical atolls of the Maldives which make up these divisions. These administrative divisions may consist of part of, a single or several natural atolls.

Malé Atoll is the name of two natural atolls which form part of the administrative division of Kaafu Atoll. The two Malé Atolls are North Malé Atoll and South Malé Atoll which are separated by the Vaadhoo Kandu. Malé and Thulusdhoo are both located in North Malé Atoll.

Geography

The Malé or Kaafu Atoll administrative division consists of the geographic or natural atolls of North Malé Atoll, South Malé Atoll, Gaafaru Atoll and Kaashidhoo Island. The atolls consists of Inhabited Islands and Uninhabited Island, a definition which includes resort islands, airport islands and industrial islands.

Although Malé, Hulhulé, Hulhumalé and Vilimalé are geographically part of North Malé Atoll, they are not part of the Kaafu Atoll administrative division and are part of the separate Malé City administrative division.

Inhabited islands

Name	Population[2]	Coordinates[3]	Geographic Atoll/Island	Remarks
Dhiffushi	967	4°26′31″N 73°42′49″E	North Malé Atoll
Gaafaru	1,013	4°44′09″N 73°30′00″E	Gaafaru Atoll
Gulhi	832	3°59′25″N 73°30′32″E	South Malé Atoll
Guraidhoo	1,580	3°54′02″N 73°28′05″E	South Malé Atoll
Himmafushi	1,334	4°18′32″N 73°34′16″E	North Malé Atoll
Huraa	1,014	4°20′01″N 73°36′03″E	North Malé Atoll
Kaashidhoo	1,728	4°57′20″N 73°27′40″E	Kaashidhoo Island
Maafushi	2,631	3°56′26″N 73°29′22″E	South Malé Atoll
Thulusdhoo	1,133	4°22′26″N 73°39′03″E	North Malé Atoll	Capital of the Malé Atoll administrative division.

Resort islands

Resort islands are classified as Uninhabited Islands which have been converted to become resorts.

The following are the resort islands, with the official name of the resort.^[4]

Name	Resort Name	Coordinates[5]	Geographic Atoll	Remarks
Asdhoo	Asdu Sun Island Resort[6]	4°27′58″N 73°39′40″E	North Malé Atoll
Akirifushi	Oblu Select at Sangeli[7]	4°38′15″N 73°24′2″E	North Malé Atoll	Opening in July 2018.
Baros	Baros Island Resort[8]	4°17′05″N 73°25′38″E	North Malé Atoll
Biyadhoo	Biyadhoo Island Resort[9]	3°55′19″N 73°27′23″E	South Malé Atoll
Bodubandos	Bandos Maldives Resort[10]	4°16′10″N 73°29′29″E	North Malé Atoll
Bodufinolhu	Fun Island Resort[11]	3°51′27″N 73°27′23″E	South Malé Atoll
Boduhithi	Coco Bodu Hithi Resort[12]	4°25′49″N 73°23′04″E	North Malé Atoll
Boduhuraa	Naladhu Private Island[13]	3°58′17″N 73°30′23″E	South Malé Atoll
Bolifushi	Jumeirah Vittaveli[14]	4°05′45″N 73°24′05″E	South Malé Atoll
Dhigufinolhu	Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort[15]	3°58′20″N 73°30′08″E	South Malé Atoll
Enboodhoo	Embudu Village[16]	4°05′02″N 73°30′43″E	South Malé Atoll
Enboodhoofinolhu	Taj Exotica Resort & Spa[17]	4°06′11″N 73°31′31″E	South Malé Atoll
Eriyadhoo	smartline Eriyadu[18]	4°35′24″N 73°24′52″E	North Malé Atoll
Farukolhufushi	Formerly Club Med and then Club Faru	4°13′51″N 73°32′38″E	North Malé Atoll	Resort closed – island now part of Hulhumalé.[19]
Fihalhohi	Fihalhohi Island Resort[20]	3°52′38″N 73°22′01″E	South Malé Atoll
Furan-nafushi	The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa[21]	4°14′59″N 73°32′44″E	North Malé Atoll
Gasfinolhu	Club Med The Finolhu Villas[22]	4°21′40″N 73°37′34″E	North Malé Atoll
Giraavaru	Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives[23]	4°12′01″N 73°24′46″E	North Malé Atoll
Helengeli	Oblu by Atmosphere at Helengeli[24]	4°38′04″N 73°33′48″E	North Malé Atoll
Henbadhoo	Vivanta by Taj - Coral Reef Maldives[25]	4°28′53″N 73°23′35″E	North Malé Atoll
Ihuru	Angsana Ihuru[26]	4°18′24″N 73°24′57″E	North Malé Atoll
Kandoomaafushi	Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma[27]	3°54′12″N 73°28′24″E	South Malé Atoll
Kanifinolhu	Club Med Kani[28]	4°20′36″N 73°36′29″E	North Malé Atoll
Kanuhuraa	Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives[29]	4°19′06″N 73°35′30″E	North Malé Atoll
Kodhipparu	Grand Park Kodhipparu[30]	4°15′35″N 73°22′48″E	North Malé Atoll
Kudabandos	Malahini Kuda Bandos[31]	4°15′49″N 73°29′59″E	North Malé Atoll
Kudahithi	Coco Prive[32]	4°25′01″N 73°22′48″E	North Malé Atoll
Kudahuraa	Four Seasons Resort[33]	4°19′41″N 73°35′51″E	North Malé Atoll
Lankanfinolhu	Villa Nautica[34]	4°17′06″N 73°33′13″E	North Malé Atoll
Lhohifushi	Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi[35]	4°21′02″N 73°37′05″E	North Malé Atoll
Maadhoo	Ozen by Atmosphere at Madhoo[36]	3°52′15″N 73°27′31″E	South Malé Atoll
Mahaanaélhihuraa	Rihiveli The Dream by Save The Dream Maldives[lower-alpha 1][37]	3°48′43″N 73°24′41″E	South Malé Atoll
Makunudhoo	Makunudu Island[38]	4°32′33″N 73°24′20″E	North Malé Atoll
Makunufushi	Como Coco Island[39]	3°55′04″N 73°28′11″E	South Malé Atoll
Medhufinolhu	One & Only Reethi Rah[40]	4°30′50″N 73°22′09″E	North Malé Atoll
Meerufenfushi	Meeru Island Resort & Spa[41]	4°27′13″N 73°43′00″E	North Malé Atoll
Nakachchaafushi	Huvafen Fushi Maldives[42]	4°22′06″N 73°22′12″E	North Malé Atoll
Olhahali/Olhuhali	Lux* North Malé Atoll	4°41′23″N 73°27′04″E	North Malé Atoll	Opening October 2018.[43]
Olhuveli	Olhuveli Beach & Spa[44]	3°51′01″N 73°27′18″E	South Malé Atoll
Ran-naalhi	Adaaran Club Rannalhi[45]	3°54′11″N 73°21′27″E	South Malé Atoll
Thulhaagiri	Thulhagiri Island Resort and Spa Maldives[46]	4°18′41″N 73°29′14″E	North Malé Atoll
Vaadhoo	Adaaran Prestige Vadoo[47]	4°07′26″N 73°27′26″E	South Malé Atoll
Vabbinfaru	Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru[48]	4°18′35″N 73°25′26″E	North Malé Atoll
Velassaru	Velassaru Maldives[49]	4°07′17″N 73°26′13″E	South Malé Atoll
Veliganduhuraa	Anantara Veli Maldives[50]	3°58′2″N 73°30′19″E	South Malé Atoll
Vihamanaafushi	Kurumba Maldives[51]	4°13′36″N 73°31′11″E	North Malé Atoll	The first resort island in the Maldives.
Villingilivaru	Formerly Dream Island Maldives	3°54′51″N 73°27′20″E	South Malé Atoll	This resort is closed.[52]
Ziyaaraiffushi	Summer Island Maldives[53]	4°31′59″N 73°22′20″E	North Malé Atoll

1. Since 1983, new management since May 2018 under Rihiveli The Dream Archived 2020-12-22 at the Wayback Machine.

Other Uninhabited Islands

Name	Current use	Coordinates	Geographic Atoll/Island	Remarks
Aarah		4°13′48″N 73°29′40″E	North Malé Atoll
Akirifushi		4°38′15″N 73°24′2″E	North Malé Atoll
Dhoonidhoo	Detention facility	4°11′49″N 73°30′49″E	North Malé Atoll
Erruh-huraa		3°48′53″N 73°24′58″E	South Malé Atoll
Feydhoofinolhu		4°12′50″N 73°29′8″E	North Malé Atoll
Funadhoo	Oil storage	4°11′1″N 73°31′4″E	North Malé Atoll
Girifushi	Military Base	4°19′6″N 73°34′42″E	North Malé Atoll
Gulheegaathuhuraa	Staff accommodation for nearby resort	3°58′36″N 73°30′23″E	South Malé Atoll
Huraagandu		4°21′58″N 73°37′20″E	North Malé Atoll
Kagi		4°40′37″N 73°30′3″E	North Malé Atoll
Kalhuhuraa		4°0′34″N 73°22′22″E	South Malé Atoll
Kanduoih-giri		4°15′28″N 73°32′26″E	North Malé Atoll
Kudafinolhu		3°51′54″N 73°27′30″E	South Malé Atoll
Lhosfushi		3°53′49″N 73°28′11″E	South Malé Atoll
Madivaru		4°30′2″N 73°22′5″E	North Malé Atoll
Maniyafushi		4°3′21″N 73°24′40″E	South Malé Atoll
Oligandufinolhu		3°48′42″N 73°25′4″E	South Malé Atoll
Rasfari		4°23′40″N 73°21′5″E	North Malé Atoll
Thanburudhoo		4°18′55″N 73°35′3″E	North Malé Atoll
Thilafushi	Industrial	4°11′0″N 73°26′44″E	North Malé Atoll
Thunbafushi	Industrial	4°35′23″N 73°35′23″E	North Malé Atoll
Vaagali		3°56′54″N 73°21′22″E	South Malé Atoll
Vabboahuraa		4°19′9″N 73°35′46″E	North Malé Atoll
Vammaafushi		3°56′55″N 73°29′46″E	North Malé Atoll
Velifaru			Gaafaru Atoll
Villingilimathidhahuraa		4°22′37″N 73°39′46″E	North Malé Atoll

Gallery

• 
  Island of Lankanfushi from Lankanfinolhu- two of the tourist resorts
• 
  Malé, the capital of the Maldives, as viewed from Vilingilli island
• 
• 
  Surfing at Lohi's Break, off Lhohifushi island
• 
  Beach on Biyaadhoo Island, 2014.
• 
  Kanifinolhu Islet
• 
  Aarah Island
• 
  Aerial view of Guriadhoo Island in South Malé Atoll

References

1. "President of Atoll Council". Local Government of Authority. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
2. Based on 2014 Census "Statistical Yearbook Maldives 2017". National Bureau of Statistics, Maldives. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
3. Based on list of islands in "Atolls of the Maldives". Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
4. Map of Kodhipparu Island Hotels Tripadvisor
5. Based on list of islands in "Status of Islands" (PDF). Department of National Planning, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Republic of Maldives. 16 February 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
6. "Asdu Sun Island". Asdu Sun Island. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
7. "Oblu Select at Sangeli". Oblu Select at Sangeli. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
8. "Baros Maldives". Baros Maldives. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
9. "Biyadhoo Island Resort". Sunland Hotels Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
10. "Bandos Maldives". Bandos Maldives. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
11. "Fun Island Resort Maldives". villahotels.com. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
12. "Coco Bodu Hithi Resort". cococollection. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
13. "Naladhu Private Island". Anantara Hotels and Resorts. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
14. "Jumeirah Vittaveli". Jumeirah International LLC. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
15. "Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort". Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
16. "Embudu Village". Embudu Village. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
17. "Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives". Taj Hotels. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
18. "smartline Eriyadu". smartline Hotels. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
19. "Club Faru resort to be closed within two months: Tourism Minister". Minivan News. 6 January 2013. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
20. "Fihalhohi Island Resort". Fihalhohi Island Resort. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
21. "The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa". Marriott International, Inc. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
22. "The Club Med Finolhu Villas". Club Med. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
23. "Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives". Centara Hotels & Resorts. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
24. "OBLU by Atmosphere at Helengeli". Atmosphere Hotels. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
25. "Vivanta by Taj - Coral Reef Maldives". Vivanta Hotels & Resorts by Taj. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
26. "Angsana Ihuru". Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
27. "Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives". IHG. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
28. "Club Med Kani". Club Med. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
29. "Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives". Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
30. "Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives". Park Hotel Group. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
31. "Malahini Kuda Bandos". Malahini Kuda Bandos. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
32. "Coco Prive". Coco Prive. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
33. "Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa". Four Seasons Hotels Limited. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
34. "Paradise Island Maldives". Paradise Island Resort & Spa. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
35. "Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi". Aadaran Group Limited. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
36. "Ozen by Atmosphere at Madhoo". Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
37. JDD, Le. "Maldives : comment un groupe de Français a acheté son île au trésor". lejdd.fr (in French). Retrieved 2019-06-21.
38. "Makunudu Island". Makunudu Island. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
39. "Como Coco Island". Como Hotels and Resorts. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
40. "One & Only Reethi Rah". One & Only Resorts. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
41. "Meeru Island Resort & Spa". Meeru Island Resort & Spa. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
42. "Huvafen Fushi Maldives". Take Me to Maldives Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
43. "Lux* North Male Atoll". Lux* Hotels and Resorts. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
44. "Olhuveli Beach & Spa". Sun Siyam Resorts. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
45. "Adaaran Club Rannalhi". Aadaran Group Ltd. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
46. "Thulhagiri Island Resort and Spa Maldives". Thulhagiri Island Resort and Spa Maldives. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
47. "Adaaran Prestige Vadoo". Aadaran Group Ltd. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
48. "Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru". Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
49. "Velassaru Maldives". Velassaru Maldives. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
50. "Anantara Veli Maldives". Anantara Hotels and Resorts. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
51. "Kurumba Maldives". Kurumba Maldives. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
52. "Tourist Resort List" (PDF). Ministry of Tourism, Maldives. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
53. "Summer Island Maldives". Summer Island Maldives. Retrieved 2018-04-27.

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• Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru. Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee. G.Sōsanī.
• Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999.