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 Maldivian language, Dhivehi.
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 Maldivian language, Dhivehi, 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 Villingili 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 | Coordinates | Geographic Atoll/Island | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhiffushi | 967 | 4°26′31″N 73°42′49″E | North Male 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 Male Atoll | |
| Guraidhoo | 1,580 | 3°54′02″N 73°28′05″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Himmafushi | 1,334 | 4°18′32″N 73°34′16″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Huraa | 1,014 | 4°20′01″N 73°36′03″E | North Male 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 Male Atoll | |
| Thulusdhoo | 1,133 | 4°22′26″N 73°39′03″E | North Male 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.
| Name | Resort Name | Coordinates | Geographic Atoll | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asdhoo | Asdu Sun Island Resort | 4°27′58″N 73°39′40″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Akirifushi | Oblu Select at Sangeli | 4°38′15″N 73°24′2″E | North Male Atoll | Opening in July 2018. |
| Baros | Baros Island Resort | 4°17′05″N 73°25′38″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Biyaadhoo | Biyadhoo Island Resort | 3°55′19″N 73°27′23″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Bodubandos | Bandos Maldives Resort | 4°16′10″N 73°29′29″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Bodufinolhu | Fun Island Resort | 3°51′27″N 73°27′23″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Boduhithi | Coco Bodu Hithi Resort | 4°25′49″N 73°23′04″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Boduhuraa | Naladhu Private Island | 3°58′17″N 73°30′23″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Bolifushi | Jumeirah Vittaveli | 4°05′45″N 73°24′05″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Dhigufinolhu | Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort | 3°58′20″N 73°30′08″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Enboodhoo | Embudu Village | 4°05′02″N 73°30′43″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Enboodhoofinolhu | Taj Exotica Resort & Spa | 4°06′11″N 73°31′31″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Eriyadhoo | smartline Eriyadu | 4°35′24″N 73°24′52″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Farukolhufushi | Formerly Club Med and then Club Faru |
4°13′51″N 73°32′38″E | North Male Atoll | The resort is closed. The island is now part of the Hulhumale land reclamation. |
| Fihalhohi | Fihalhohi Island Resort | 3°52′38″N 73°22′01″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Furan-nafushi | The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa | 4°14′59″N 73°32′44″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Gasfinolhu | Club Med The Finolhu Villas | 4°21′40″N 73°37′34″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Giraavaru | Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives | 4°12′01″N 73°24′46″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Helengeli | Oblu by Atmosphere at Helengeli | 4°38′04″N 73°33′48″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Henbadhoo | Vivanta by Taj – Coral Reef Maldives | 4°28′53″N 73°23′35″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Ihuru | Angsana Ihuru | 4°18′24″N 73°24′57″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Kandoomaafushi | Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma | 3°54′12″N 73°28′24″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Kanifinolhu | Club Med Kani | 4°20′36″N 73°36′29″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Kanuhuraa | Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives | 4°19′06″N 73°35′30″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Kodhipparu | Grand Park Kodhipparu | 4°15′35″N 73°22′48″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Kudabandos | Malahini Kuda Bandos | 4°15′49″N 73°29′59″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Kudahithi | Coco Prive | 4°25′01″N 73°22′48″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Kudahuraa | Four Seasons Resort | 4°19′41″N 73°35′51″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Lankanfinolhu | Paradise Island Maldives | 4°17′06″N 73°33′13″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Lhohifushi | Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi | 4°21′02″N 73°37′05″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Maadhoo | Ozen by Atmosphere at Madhoo | 3°52′15″N 73°27′31″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Mahaanaélhihuraa | Rihiveli The Dream by Save The Dream Maldives | 3°48′43″N 73°24′41″E | South Male Atoll | Since 1983, new management since May 2018 under Rihiveli The Dream. |
| Makunudhoo | Makunudu Island | 4°32′33″N 73°24′20″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Makunufushi | Como Coco Island | 3°55′04″N 73°28′11″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Medhufinolhu | One & Only Reethi Rah | 4°30′50″N 73°22′09″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Meerufenfushi | Meeru Island Resort & Spa | 4°27′13″N 73°43′00″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Nakachchaafushi | Huvafen Fushi Maldives | 4°22′06″N 73°22′12″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Olhahali/Olhuhali | Lux* North Male Atoll | 4°41′23″N 73°27′04″E | North Male Atoll | Opening October 2018. |
| Olhuveli | Olhuveli Beach & Spa | 3°51′01″N 73°27′18″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Ran-naalhi | Adaaran Club Rannalhi | 3°54′11″N 73°21′27″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Thulhaagiri | Thulhagiri Island Resort and Spa Maldives | 4°18′41″N 73°29′14″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Vaadhoo | Adaaran Prestige Vadoo | 4°07′26″N 73°27′26″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Vabbinfaru | Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru | 4°18′35″N 73°25′26″E | North Male Atoll | |
| Velassaru | Velassaru Maldives | 4°07′17″N 73°26′13″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Veliganduhuraa | Anantara Veli Maldives | 3°58′2″N 73°30′19″E | South Male Atoll | |
| Vihamanaafushi | Kurumba Maldives | 4°13′36″N 73°31′11″E | North Male Atoll | This was the first resort island in the Maldives. |
| Villingilivaru | Formerly Dream Island Maldives | 3°54′51″N 73°27′20″E | South Male Atoll | This resort is closed. |
| Ziyaaraiffushi | Summer Island Maldives | 4°31′59″N 73°22′20″E | North Male Atoll |
Other Uninhabited Islands
| Name | Current usage | 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 | 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[edit]
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Island of Lankanfushi from Lankanfinolhu- two of the tourist resorts
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Malé, the capital of the Maldives, as viewed from Vilingilli island
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Surfing at Lohi’s Break, off Lhohifushi island
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Beach on Biyaadhoo Island, 2014.
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Kanifinolhu Islet
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Aarah Island
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Aerial view of Guriadhoo Island in South Malé Atoll