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Huvadhu, Suvadive, Suvaidu or Suvadiva[1][2][3][4] is the atoll with the most islands in the world.[5] The atoll is located in the Indian Ocean. It is south of theSuvadiva Channel in theRepublic of Maldives with a total area of 3,152 km2, of which 38.5 km2 is dry land. The atoll contains 255 islands.
It is the secondlargest atoll in the country, afterBoduthiladhunmathi (consisting ofHaa Alif,Haa Dhaalu,Shaviyani, andNoonu administrative divisions) which has smaller and fewer islands spread across a larger area.
Huvadu Atoll has been divided into two districts (administrative provinces) for administrative purposes since the 1970s. These divisions areNorthern Huvadhu Atoll (Gaafu Alifu) in the north, andSouthern Huvadhu Atoll (Gaafu Dhaalu).
During his journey to the Maldives, 14th century Muslim explorerIbn Batuta stated in his journal that the Maldives was destitute of grain, except in the province of Souweid (Suvadiva or Huvadu) where they produced a cereal, a kind of Millet which was brought to Mahal.[6]
The traditional seat of power in the Huvadhu wasThinadhoo until the division, after which Thinadhoo remained the Capital of South Huvadhu Atoll, andVillingili was instated as the capital of North Huvadhu Atoll.
The master carpenters of the iconicMale' Hukuru Miskiy were from Huvadu,Kondey island. They were Ali Maavadi Kaleyfaanu and Mahmud Maavadi Kaleyfaanu.[7]
The best quality mats of the Maldives are woven in this atoll, in the island of Gaddū. The local grass 'hau' is dyed in two colors, black and yellow.
Huvadhu Atoll, located in the Maldives within the Indian Ocean, spans approximately 2,900 square kilometers (1,120 square miles) and encompasses around 255 islands within its confines. It holds the Guinness World Record for the atoll with the most number of islands in the World.[8]
The ancientSanskritised name of this atoll wasSuvadive. Its capital isThinadhoo (Huvadhu Atoll)
Historically the Huvadu atoll chief based in Thinadhoo had a great measure of self-government. He even had the privilege, not granted to any other atoll chief of the Maldives, to fly his own flag in his vessels and at his residence. The flag of the Huvadu Atoll Chief was similar to theflag of Nepal in cut, with two central black triangles edged by red and white bands.[9]
There are manyBuddhist archaeological remains in Huvadū. Therefore, it is likely that this was an important atoll inMaldivian history.None of these ancient remains have been properly investigated as yet.[10]
Due to its strategic placement on the main sea route around southern India, Huvadhu and the other southern atolls have a long history of contact from mariners sailing the Indian Ocean through the centuries.[11]
Families of Devvadhoo,Dhiyamigili andIsdhoo Dynasty can be traced toDevvadu,Addu,Fuvahmulah andTinadu. After the assassination ofMuhammed Ghiya'as ud-din,Prince Abdulla son of Ghiyaasuddin was banished toFuvahmulah. The South of Maldives was a safe haven for Abdulla being a descendant of Addu Bodu Fandiyaaru Thakurufaan.
Dhevvadhoo island is located at the centre of the Huvadu atoll. Sultan Mohamed IV or Devvadhoo Rasgefaanu was the first Sultan of Devvadhoo Dynasty who was the son of Ali Mafahaiy Kilege of Devvadu and Kakuni Dio.[citation needed] Sultan Mohamed IV was married to Khadheeja Kan’ba, daughter of Ibrahim Shah Bandar also known as Isdhoo Bodu Velaanaa Thakurufaan. After his death the Isdhoo dynasty was proclaimed.
In January 1959, the three southern atolls: Huvadhu,Fuvahmulah andAddu, were involved in setting up the breakawayUnited Suvadive Republic which survived until September 1963. The name of the secessionist state was taken from the ancient name of Huvadhoo atoll.
In some islands, likeGaddhoo, there was opposition to the secession, however through threats and coercion, the groups of people opposing the Suvadive state were forced to agree.
The republic collapsed when the island ofHavaru Thinadhoo was depopulated, and all infrastructure burnt to the ground by the Maldivian military led by then Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir in 1962, after which it was left uninhabited for four years. For the next 10 years, the seat of power was moved to Gaddhoo until Havaru Thinadhoo, since repopulated, was reinstated as the capital of Huvadhoo.
The main motivation for secession was stated to be disagreements with the centralized policies that were being enforced by Male' at the time.
The name of the broad channel north of this atoll is locally known asHuvadu Kandu. It appeared on the old French maps asCourant de Souadou. Other names areSuvadiva Channel orOne-a-half Degree Channel.
It is named after Huvadu Atoll and is the broadest channel between the atolls of Maldives.
The inhabitants of this large atoll speak their own distinct form of theDhivehi language, known as Huvadu dialect (bahuruva).
Because of the isolation from the Northern Atolls, and the capital of Malé, the Huvadhu dialect is significantly different from the other variants of the Maldive language, making much use of the retroflex 'Ţ' and allegedly retaining old forms of Dhivehi.
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)Suvadiva (oder Huwadu) und Addu sind die beiden südlichsten Atolle der Malediven
Suvadiva (oder Huwadu)
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