Hulhumeedhoo | |
|---|---|
District ofAddu City | |
 | |
 | |
| Coordinates:0°35′14″S73°13′56″E / 0.587243°S 73.232281°E /-0.587243; 73.232281 | |
| Country | Maldives |
| Geographic atoll | Addu |
| Administrative atoll | Seenu |
| Government | |
| • Type | Local government |
| • Body | Addu City council |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.2273 km2 (1.2461 sq mi) |
| • Meedhoo | 1.8773 km2 (0.7248 sq mi) |
| • Hulhudhoo | 1.35 km2 (0.52 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) |
| Population (2022)[3] | |
• Total | 3,074 |
| • Meedhoo | 1,892 |
| • Hulhudhoo | 1,182 |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (MVT) |
| Website | adducity |
Hulhumeedhoo (Dhivehi: ހުޅުމީދޫ) orHulhudhoo-Meedhoo is an island located on the northeastern end ofAddu City. It is thefifth largest island in the Maldives. Although Hulhumeedhoo is geographically one island, it is divided into two administrative constituencies of Addu City;Meedhoo andHulhudhoo, which are roughly the northern half and southern half of the island respectively. The nameHulhumeedhoo is anamalgamation ofHulhudhoo andMeedhoo.
Meedhoo (Dhivehi: މީދޫ) is the oldest populated island inAddu Atoll, having been settled between 1000 and 500BCE.[4] Its name comes from the originalIndo-Aryan settlers, the "dhoo" comes from sanskrit "dwīpa" meaning island but the meaning of "mee" is obscure.
Meedhoo is generally considered to be the northern half of Hulhumeedhoo, and has an area of 1.827 km2 and a population of 2,953 (2017).[5]
Hulhudhoo (Dhivehi:ހުޅުދޫ) is the third most populous island inAddu Atoll. It is located on the north-east side of the atoll adjoining the island ofMeedhoo to the north. The island is approximately 530 km south ofMale' City, the capital of Maldives. Hulhudhoo has a population of 3,687 people (2017).[6] In the vaguely defined border dividing the island into two constituencies, Hulhudhoo is the southern half of Hulhumeedhoo. Hulhudhoo means "small island" with hulhu being the modern form of old dhivehi word "sulhu" meaning small.
Hulhudhoo spreads to an area of around 1.05km2.[7] Hulhudhoo's landscape is mainly ofpalms trees and thicktropical vegetation as in other islands of the atoll. The island consists of small roads, close lanes, large number of closely built houses, only a few have a second floor, green vegetation surrounds most of the housing compounds, specially banana trees and in some households there are eventaro (އަލަ) fields within the housing compound. This vegetation is regarded as part domestic agriculture and is often sent toMale' to local market.
To the south of Hulhudhoo is Herathera. An uninhabited section of the island which is located to the south, within the lagoon of Hulhudhoo. This island is linked with Hulhudhoo by bridge. The island of Maafishi, which is also located on the south of Hulhudhoo.
Hulhumeedhoo's shape loosely resembles that of the letterD or aharp. It is the northeasternmost island ofAddu Atoll, making it the closest island to Fuvahmulah, which is located about 40km to the northeast. The closest inhabited islands,Hithadhoo,Maradhoo,Maradhoo-Feydhoo andFeydhoo (Addu City contiguous) are located no more than 15 kilometers away, about 20 minutes by speedboat.
The original settlers wereDhivehi people ofAryan origin. An Arab traveller named Yoosuf Naib introducedIslam to the island many years before the rest of the Maldives converted to Islam, and built the country's first mosque. The island has since been known as a centre of learning and Islamic religious education.[8]
The 900 year oldKōgaṇṇu Cemetery in Meedhoo is the oldest cemetery in the Maldives.[9] The largest tombstone in the country is also found in this cemetery. It is believed that this tombstone dates back to the 18th century and belongs to a royal of the Maldives.
Schools within Hulhumeedhoo include[10] Asriyya Preschool,[11] Shareefee Preschool,[12] Nasriyya Preschool and Seenu Atoll School.[13] Seenu Atoll School is the onlysecondary school in the island.
Hulhumeedhoo, being one of the oldest populated islands in the Maldives, is also home to remnants of theSecond World War and even centuries-old relics. Most of the ancient artifacts are found atKogannu Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in the country, which is home to many mosques and tombs of antiquity. The island is home to World War II era remnants likecoastal defence artillery andfortifications (Dhé Badi Dheythere), built on the island's eastern coast by theBritish based atRAF Gan as defence againstAxis powers.[14]
Some notable beaches of the island include,Eedhigamool beach,Kogannu beach,Kalhibih,Bomaa Fannu,Veyraando. To the south of the island is Canareef Island Resort,[15] formerlyHerathera,[16] which was a part of the island that was separated to build a resort. To the north is a similar situation,Ismehelaa Hera, also separated from Hulhumeedhoo to build South Palm Maldives.[17]
Medhebandharo / Medhubandharu (މެދެބަނދަރޮ), is the centralharbour of the island. It is home toMTCC Hulhumeedhoo Ferry Terminal[18] and Addu Fisheries Complex.[19]
Hulhumeedhoo Kilhi orMathikilhi or simply,Kilhi (ކިޅި) is a large,marshy grassland of around 50 hectares located in the centre of Hulhumeedhoo known for its ponds. Although in this case, it refers to a marsh, "Kilhi" usually means eitherlake orwetland in the Addu dialect of theDhivehi language. The ponds are known to have a few freshwater fish species including,Greenstripe Barb (Puntius vittatus)[20] and a species ofswamp eel.
Kilhi has been becoming more and more popular, ever since the building of a pond named "Mathikilhi Eco Garden".[21] It has since been an icon and landmark of the island.
Wildfires occur in the dry, open marsh a few times every year.[22][23] The cause of ignition is usually attributed tointentional or even accidental fires, althoughnatural ignition is also possible. In 2018, a fire in the Kilhi area destroyed the nearby WAMCO site, the island's waste management office.[24][25]
