!!!Southern Maldives. Part I

by Oleg Gaponyuk,
member of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

4 August 2017

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

Many of the world's resorts offer their visitors the pristine purity,
coral reefs and snow-white beaches, but the best one among them is the
Maldives archipelago. Being spread over roughly 90,000 square
kilometres, the Maldives has only around 1% of the land territory — 298
square kilometres, and among country's 1,190 islands only 185 are
inhabited.

[{Image src='01_Southern Maldives - Above the Munandhoo Island.jpg' caption='Southern Maldives - Above the Munandhoo Island' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='725'}]

One of the most interesting places of the archipelago is Huvadhu Atoll —
the second largest atoll of the country and the 10th largest atoll in
the world. Considering that its total area is 3,152 square kilometres,
the land comprises only 38.5 square kilometres. The complicated
administrative structure of the Maldives resulted in the division of the
atoll into Gaafu Alifu (Northern Huvadhu Atoll) and Gaafu Dhaalu
(Southern Huvadhu Atoll). The first one consists of 82 islands, the
second one — of 152.

[{Image src='02_Southern Maldives - Huvadhoo Atoll.jpg' caption='Southern Maldives - Huvadhoo Atoll' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='311'}]

AirPano team has already visited some of them. Namely, Villingili,
Falhumaafushi, Nilandhoo, Dhaandhoo, Kondey, Dhiyadhoo and several even
tinier islets of Gaafu Alifu, and Gaddhoo island of Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.
As in almost any place in the Maldives, the water area of these islands
represents a rich marine biodiversity, while the land area is full of
the abundant tropical vegetation. Coral reefs are full of exotic fish,
and even dolphins and other marine inhabitants often come here.

[{Image src='03_Southern Maldives - Over the coral reef.jpg' caption='Southern Maldives - Over the coral reef' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='610'}]

About 65 kilometres south of Gaddhoo there is one more beautiful atoll,
it is called Gnaviyani. From the inside, it is fully filled with corals
which form Fuvahmulah island. Its width is slightly more than 2
kilometres, its length is around 7 kilometres, and it is the only island
of the atoll. The proximity to the equator has created the special
climate so that it has fresh lakes and marshy lands. The fauna of the
atoll is unique, as well: many of the local animals, birds and fish are
endemic, meaning they exist only in this particular area.

[{Image src='04_Southern Maldives - Dhoodigan, Fuvammulah Island.jpg' caption='Southern Maldives - Dhoodigan, Fuvammulah Island' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='513'}]

One more specific feature of Gnaviyani, comparing to other islands of
the Maldives, is the fertile soil which makes it possible to grow
different fruit and vegetables. Local sorts of oranges and pineapples
have no equals in the whole world. As for the production of mango,
Fuvahmulah confidently holds the first place in this field among all
other islands of the Maldives.

[{Image src='05_Southern Maldives - Above the Mahaddhoo Island.jpg' caption='Southern Maldives - Above the Mahaddhoo Island' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='701'}]

14 thousand inhabitants of the island are occupied not only by the
agriculture, but they are also involved in the tourism activity. Among
the sights that attract people from all over the world, there is the
whitest beach Thoondu, which is protected by the state. On that beach,
one can find small round pebbles that stay sparkling even after getting
dry. It is the only place having this kind of stones, so tourists are
eager to take them home as souvenirs. In addition to that, a unique
natural phenomenon sometimes occurs here: it is called Bissaaveli, and
it forms when part of the sand of the beach moves away from the shore
towards the edge of the reef, thus creating a lagoon which is popular
among tourists and locals. And, finally, the coast of the other part of
the island is covered by black gravel, which is very rare for the
Maldives.

The panoramas of AirPano will help you to become better acquainted with
all these different, but still astonishing islands of the Maldives
archipelago.

[{Image src='06_Southern Maldives - Above the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa. Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Hadahaa, North Huvadhoo. Planet.jpg' caption='Southern Maldives - Above the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa. Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Hadahaa, North Huvadhoo. Planet' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='753'}]

We will publish the second and third part of travel to Southern Maldives
soon. Meanwhile you can have a look at other panoramas of Maldive
Islands:

1. Maldives, Anantara Kihavah and Gili Lankanfushi

2. Maldives. W Retreat & Spa

3. Manta Rays, Maldives

4. Maldives, One&Only Reethi-Rah. Split-panoramas

5. Maldive Islands

6. Underwater Maldives. Stingray

7. Underwater Shooting on the Maldives. Coral reefs

8. Underwater Shooting on the Maldives. Divers

9. Night Maldives

10. Maldives from the plane

\\ \\
[20 Panoramas of Southern Maldives. Part I|Geography/Asia/Maldives/Pictures/Panoramas_of_Southern_Maldives_Part_I]










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