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Atoll
Introduction |
Meemu Atoll located to
the south of Male’ the capital, is 47 kilometres in length and 30
kilometres in width. There are about 35 islands in the atoll. Most
of the islands of the atoll are on the eastern rim of the atoll,
just a few on the rest of the atoll rim and surprisingly none inside
the atoll. A population of about 5,000 inhabits just nine of the
islands. Distinctively all the inhabited islands are on the eastern
side. The atoll has been newly opened up for tourism and hence also
for diving. Two new resorts are planned to open during the course of
1999. Once the resorts open, divers would get the unique opportunity
to plunge into waters where no diver has ever been and explore dive
sites totally untouched. Along the northern fringing reef are five
channels, the best of which is the westernmost one, known as Mulaku
Kandu. The underwater topography of these are quite similar to the
narrow spectacular channels of Vaavu Atoll. Mulaku Kandu has the
unusual feature of a large submerged pinnacle rising from very deep
water in the centre of the channel. The pinnacle is covered with
beautiful soft corals and surrounded by a myriad of marine life. The
channels on the western rim of the atoll will also make fantastic
dive sites. As they are exposed, the best diving in these would be
during the southwest monsoon. The atoll has traditionally been, and
still is a popular port of call for vessels plying between the
southern atolls and the capital. Boats stopover for the night often
at the capital island Muli. The main occupation in the atoll is
fishing. Dhiggaru, probably the best known for fishing is also the
most densely populated. Agriculture is carried out on a small scale
on some islands. Kolhuvaareyaafushi, at the southern tip and Mulah
are known for growing yams. A sword believed to have been used by
Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu was deposited in the mosque at
Kolhuvaareyaafushi. The sword measured 24 inches by one and a half
inches. |
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