
| Until late ’98 this atoll
to the north of Male’ Atoll was home to just a single resort. The
administrative region of Baa Atoll is comprised of two geographical
atolls. The small Goidhoo Atoll also known as Horsburgh Atoll to the
south, is also part of the administrative region of Baa Atoll. The
population of the atoll is about 10,000 spread out over ten of the
islands out of a total of 50. Five are tourist resorts. The rest lie
‘deserted’, their vegetation untouched and beaches rarely trodden.
Many of them are used for excursions by resorts in the atoll. The
reefs of this atoll are in pristine condition, and whether you are a
diver or snorkeller the unspoilt natural beauty of the atoll is
readily apparent. One of the secrets of Baa Atoll is the large
numbers of mantas and whale sharks that visit the atoll, during the
southwest monsoon especially from May to July. Resorts in Baa Atoll
offer transport from the airport by seaplane and speedboat, however
due to the distance involved seaplane is the more convenient option.
The main occupation of the people of this atoll is tuna fishery,
however some of the islands are well known for their skilled
craftsmen. Most of the lacquer ware you see for sale in the souvenir
shops and resort boutiques are the work of the people of Thulhaadhoo
although the main occupation of the people of the island is fishing.
Eydhafushi, the capital island was famous for it ‘feyli’ weaving - a
wraparound skirt for women. The French ship ‘Corbin’ was wrecked on
Fulhadhoo in Goidhoo Atoll in 1602. It was here that Pyrard de
Laval, the famous French explorer who was on board, had his first
experience of the Maldives, which he wrote about later. |



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