Alifu Dhaalu Atoll (also known as Southern Ari Atoll or Ari Atholhu Dhekunuburi) is an administrative division of the Maldives.
The separation of Ari Atoll (formerly Alifu Atoll) on March 1, 1984, into a Northern and a Southern section formed the two most recent administrative divisions of the Maldives, namely Alifu Alifu Atoll and Alifu Dhaalu Atoll. Alifu Dhaalu Atoll lies south of the line between the channels of Himendhoo Dhekunukandu and Genburugau Kandu.
There is an ancient mosque in Fenfushi island having wooden decorated ceilings and lacquerwork panels.
Buddhist remains, including a stupa, have been found in Ariadhoo Island.
Whale sharks are year-round residents of Alif Dhaal Atoll.
Geography The South Ari Atoll administrative division consists of the southern part of the geographic or natural Ari Atoll (described as Southern Ari Atoll in this context to differentiate from the official name of the administrative division). The atoll consists of Inhabited Islands and Uninhabited Islands, a definition which includes resort islands, airport islands, and industrial islands.
Inhabited islands NamePopulationBased on 2014 Census CoordinatesBased on list of islands in Geographic Atoll/Island RemarksDhangethi 713 Southern Ari Atoll Dhiddhoo 137 Southern Ari Atoll Dhigurah 529 Southern Ari Atoll Fenfushi 729 Southern Ari Atoll Hangnaameedhoo 481 Southern Ari Atoll Kunburudhoo 606 Southern Ari Atoll Maamigili 2,079 Southern Ari Atoll Mahibadhoo 1,939 Southern Ari Atoll Capital of the South Ari Atoll Administrative Division Mandhoo 295 Southern Ari Atoll Omadhoo 843 Southern Ari Atoll
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.
NameResort Name CoordinatesBased on list of islands in Geographic Atoll RemarksAngaagau Angaaga Island Resort and Spa Southern Ari Atoll AthurugauDiamonds Athuruga Southern Ari Atoll DhidhdhoofinolhuLUX* South Ari Atoll Southern Ari Atoll DhiffushiHoliday Island Resort Southern Ari Atoll HuvahendhooLily Beach Resort and Spa at Huvahendoo Southern Ari Atoll Kuda RahAmaya Kuda Rah Southern Ari Atoll MaafushivaruMaafushivaru Southern Ari Atoll MachchafushiCentara Grand Island Resort and Spa Southern Ari Atoll MirihiMirihi Island Resort Southern Ari Atoll MoofushiConstance Moofushi Southern Ari Atoll NalaguraidhooSun Island Resort Southern Ari Atoll RangalifinolhuConrad Maldives Rangali Island Southern Ari Atoll ThundufushiDiamonds Thudufushi Southern Ari Atoll VakarufalhiVakarufalhi Island Resort Southern Ari Atoll VilamendhooVilamendhoo Island Resort Southern Ari Atoll VillingilivaruRanveli Village Southern Ari Atoll HuruelhiRadisson Blu Maldives unknown Southern Ari Atoll
References
Divehi Tārīkhah Au Alikameh. Divehi Bahāi Tārikhah Khidmaiykurā Qaumī Markazu. Reprint 1958 edn. Malé 1990. 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.