Above Maldives, First Edition; 2009

Above MALDIVES A Photographic Journey over the Atolls & Islands of Maldives

Photo: DigitalGlobe

Edition 1: 2009 - ATOLL IMAGES

ABOVE MALDIVES

(Bottom to top ) Dharavandhoo, Hanifaru and Aidhoo in Baa atoll. Photo: DigitalGlobe

A Photographic Journey over the Atolls & Islands of Maldives

by Atoll Images www.atoll-images.com

On the cover: Coco Palm Bodu Hithi Resort Photo: DigitalGlobe

Published by: Atoll Images. First Edition; 2009 Atoll Images is a full subsidiary of Water Solutions Pvt.Ltd Design Atoll Images 2009 Photo credits Digital Globe, Yassin Hameed Information Sources Maps of Maldives, The Complete Guide to the Atolls & Islands of Maldives, Water Solutions Pvt.Ltd

Atoll Images Ma.Shah, Dhidhi Goalhi, Male’, Maldives Tel: 960 3341643; Fax: 960 3331643 www.atoll-images.com info@atoll-images.com

Copyright: Atoll Images ISBN: 99915-2-572-6 Reg. No: 178-NBC/BK/2009/33 This publication is an initiative by Atoll Images to educate people on the unique geography and the beauty of Maldives. Using high resolution satellite imagery from Digital Globe, this book illustrates a total of 96 photos of various islands, and several more photos of reefs, and sand banks, taken from above.

Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Ma.Shah, Dhidhi Goalhi, Male’, Maldives Tel: 960 3341643; Fax: 960 3331643 www.water-solutions.biz info@water-solutions.biz

The book will be revised regularly to include new and updated photos.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher of this book. To advertise in the subsequent editions or to include photos of a particular resort or an island, please email: info@atoll-images.com

Atoll Images was created with the objective of informing, educating and creating awareness through visual media.

Maldives Tourism Promotion Board’s (MTPB) logo used with their permission.

Special thanks to Hillath, Ibrahim Rasheed (Ben) and all Water Solutions staff.

Introduction Maldives is a group of low-lying coral islands, made up of more than 2045 coral reefs forming 26 natural atolls. The Maldives is located on the Laccadives Chagos submarine ridge in the Indian Ocean and is situated south-west of Sri Lanka. The Maldives stretches to 860 km along and 120 km wide. People live only in a small percentage of the islands and more than 90 islands are exclusively developed as resorts.

More than 1000 islands are uninhabited. These beautiful islands boast tropical landscapes, white sandy beaches and crystal clear lagoons.

The islands are surrounded by white beaches, clear lagoon and beautiful coral reefs that is a holidaymaker’s dream.

Islands of the Maldives vary in shape and size. The total number of islands in the Maldives is a mystery itself. Islands have been forming, eroding and joining as time have passed and it is difficult to determine the exact number of islands. The definition of an island is also controversial. What is an island? Is it any piece of dry land? Is it any land with vegetation or is it any piece of land visible at high tide?

In this book, we set aside these questions and concentrate on natural beauty. The book illustrates the natural beauty of Maldives. A total of 96 high resolution satellite photos of various islands have been illustrated along with many more photos of reefs and sand banks.

Every island and reef has its unique characteristics and no two islands nor reefs are the same. Some islands have lush vegetation and beautiful lagoons, others have bays and ponds. Some islands don’t even have any vegetation or may have a single tree and a large lagoon that varies in color from point to point. Some islands are circular, while others take the shape of alphabets. Some reefs are oval and large enclosing a lagoon, while other reefs have tiny sand banks that appear and dissapear with changing tide.

These are some of the unique characteristics of these islands. Getting the opportunity to visit these islands would be great but seeing them from above is surreal. That is the objective of this book. The book will take you on a fantastic photographic journey over the atolls and islands of Maldives.

This book will be useful for many people and groups namely, government agencies, planners, private sector, resort owners and developers, potential resort owners, tour operators, tourists, divers, students, marine biologists, geographers, architects, environmentalists and others alike.

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Photo:DigitalGlobe

About the Photos The photos have been presented atoll-wise. Before the photos, a map of each atoll has been provided with numbers that correspond to the numbers on the photo pages. To locate an island, refer to these numbers and the atoll map. However, please do take note that the maps are not according to scale.

All the inhabited islands, resorts, and atolls are not included in this edition. Certain islands and resorts have been specially selected for this edition on the request of sponsors and donors who have made generous grants to the publication of this book.

A brief description of the island and the date of the photo are also provided. All the photos in this book, except one photo are satellite images acquired from DigitalGlobe. Since there are a lot of developments in most of the islands, the actual shape of an island today may vary from the photos illustrated.

Photos from all the atolls are not presented, but will be added with subsequent editions of this book. Except for some, only the local names of the islands are used. Simple icons have been used beside the photos and their descriptions are as shown here.

Indicates an inhabited island where people live as a community.

Indicates an uninhabited island. All industrial islands, agricultural islands and airports are also indicated as uninhabited.

Indicates a resort island that is either an operating resort, a resort under construction / redevelopment or an island that has been proposed as a resort .

Indicates the number on the map

About the Maps Maps are not to be used for navigation as they are not according to scale. Maps of all atolls having photos displayed on the book are illustrated. All maps will have a number that corresponds to the photo number. Use these numbers to locate a particular island or a reef. The following legend will help to identify what is illustrated on the map.

Legend Kela

Reef Reef name Island 1 Beenaafushi

Deep lagoon

Thinadhoo

Dhapparuhuraa Uninhabited Island Dhapparuhuraa

Naridhoo (PR)

Vashafaru

Filladhoo

Filladhoo Inhabited Island DHIDHDHOO Atoll capital Dhonakulhi

DHIDHDHOO

Naridhoo (PR)

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Resort Proposed Resort Photo Reference Atoll Lagoon

Map not to be used for navigation

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Contents

Introduction--------------Page 01 About the Photos-------Page 02 About the Maps---------Page 02 Contents ------------------Page 03 Haa Alifu Atoll (Ha)

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Haa Dhaalu Atoll (Hdh)

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Shaviyani Atoll (Sh)

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Noonu Atoll (N)

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Raa Atoll (R)

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Lhaviyani Atoll (LH)

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Baa Atoll (B)

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Kaafu Atoll (K) - North

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Kaafu Atoll Page 70(K) - South

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Alif Dhaalu Atoll (Adh)

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Vaavu Atoll (V)

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Faafu Atoll (F)

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Meemu Atoll (M) Faandhoo

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Dhaalu Atoll (Dh)

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Laamu Atoll (L)

Gaafu Alif Atoll (GA)

Page 86(GDh) Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll

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Gnaviyani Atoll (Gn)

Seenu Atoll (S)

Photo:DigitalGlobe 3

Haa Alifu Atoll

Haa Alifu ATOLL

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Haa Alifu ATOLL

Baarah Baarah is an inhabited island with a population of 1200. With a total land area of 248 hectares, this is a large island compared to other Maldivian Islands. Much of the island is still intact and people live only on a small portion of the island. There are enclosed water bodies or ponds in the island which makes this island environmentally unique. There is a beautiful semi enclosed bay and beautiful beaches at different parts of the coastline. Date photo taken: August 2007.

Photo: DigitalGlobe

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Haa Alifu ATOLL

Beenaafushi

Beenaafushi is a narrow and long uninhabited island formed on the same coral reef as Vashafaru island in Haa Alifu atoll. The island is formed on the northern rim of this large coral reef. There is also another very beautiful sand bank formed close to Beenaafushi. Beenaafushi and the nearby sand bank is often used by locals for picnics. When viewed from above, the scenery is absolutely beautiful.

To visit these sand banks, contact Le-Maldives, a tour operator either on www.le-maldives.com or through email:info@le-maldives.com Date photo taken: July 2006. Photo: DigitalGlobe.

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Haa Alifu ATOLL

Vashafaru

Vashafaru is an inhabited island with a population of just over 450. Vashafaru is formed on a large coral reef which also has another small uninhabited island and a beautiful sand bank. Vashafaru has a beautiful beach and lagoon around the island, and both ends of the island have beautiful sand spits.

Date photo taken: July 2006. Photo: DigitalGlobe.

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Haa Alifu ATOLL

Alidhoo

Alidhoo is a five star resort which started its operation in July 2007. One of the most striking features of the resort is the main restaurant which is shaped like an octopus when viewed from above.

Date photo taken: August 2007. Photo: DigitalGlobe.

Utheemu

Utheemu island has a rich history and has historical landmarks that make this island unique.

Tourists from nearby resorts visit this island everyday. The major attraction in this island is the Tomb of Mohammed Thakurufaanu, a local hero who liberated Maldives from Portuguese rule.

Date photo taken: August 2007.

Photo: DigitalGlobe.

Photo: DigitalGlobe

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Haa Alifu ATOLL

Muraidhoo Muraidhoo is located near Maafahi and has a small population of around 450. The island has a beautiful beach around and the people live in the central part of the island.

Date photo taken: August 2007.

Photo: DigitalGlobe.

Maafahi

Maafahi is an agricultural island, where farming is undertaken on a commercial basis. This is one of the most beautiful islands in Haa Alifu atoll with white sandy beaches and a beautiful lagoon all around the island. More than half of the island is used for agriculture while the other half is still intact.

Date photo taken: August 2007.

Photo: DigitalGlobe.

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Haa Dhaalu Atoll

Haa Dhaalu ATOLL

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Haa Dhaalu ATOLL

Nellaidhoo

Nellaidhoo (above) is an inhabited island with a population of just over 700. The island is formed inside the atoll lagoon and has a very narrow lagoon.

Hirinaidhoo

The island of Hirinaidhoo (below) is a small uninhabited island.

Date photo taken: December 2005. Photo: DigitalGlobe.

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ATOLL IMAGES: 2009

This book provides an insight in to the geography of the atolls and islands of Maldives. Using high resolution satellite photos and aerial photography, the book will take the reader on a photographic journey over the atolls and islands of Maldives. This is the first book of this kind that focuses only on aerial photography of Maldives. The book presents a total of 96 aerial photos of various islands and many more photos of coral reefs and sand banks.

This book will be useful for many people and groups namely, government agencies, planners, private sector, resort owners and developers, potential resort owners, tour operators, tourists, students, divers, marine biologists, geographers, architects, environmentalists and others alike.

Photos: DigitalGlobe

ISBN 999152572-6

9991525726