Haddhunmathi Atoll
Laamu Atoll | |
---|---|
• Uninhabited islands | Athahédha, Berasdhoo, Bileitheyrahaa, Bodufenrahaa, Bodufinolhu, Boduhuraa, Bodumaabulhali, Bokaiffushi, Dhekunu Vinagandu, Faés, Fonagaadhoo, Fushi, Gasfinolhu, Guraidhoo, Hanhushi, Hedha, Holhurahaa, Hulhimendhoo, Hulhisdhoo, Hulhiyandhoo, Kadhdhoo, Kalhuhuraa, Kandaru, Kudafares, Kudafushi, Kudahuraa, Kudakalhaidhoo, Kukurahaa, Maakaulhuveli, Maaveshi, Mahakanfushi, Medhafushi, Medhoo, Medhufinolhu, Medhuvinagandu, Munyafushi, Olhutholhu, Olhuveli, Thunburi, Thundudhoshufushi Nolhoo, Uthuruvinagandu, Uvadhevifushi, Vadinolhu, Veligandufinolhu, Ziyaaraiffushi |
Resort islands(*), airports(¤) and industrial islands are also considered uninhabited. |
Haddhunmathi or Laamu Atoll (Dhivehi: ހައްދުންމަތި އަތޮޅު) is an administrative division of the Maldives. The administrative capital is Fonadhoo Island. It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name. It is mostly rimmed by barrier reefs, the broadest of which are topped by islands. There are many islands along its eastern and southern boundaries. This atoll is quite regular excepting for the projection of the reef at its NE corner (Isdhū Muli). It closely resembles Kolhumadulhu, its neighbour further north. Owing to its typical atoll shape, it differs in no respect from atolls in the Pacific Ocean, save for its greater size. Its reefs are generally of little breadth, with no signs of vilu (deep pools), except for its eastern fringes which are covered with islands that are quite large by Maldivian standards. The lagoon is comparatively open, containing scattered shoal patches; the bottom is muddy and the average depth is from 30 to 34 fathoms (55 to 62 m).
Haddhummathi Atoll forms the southern limit of Central Maldives. Beyond the Huvadhu Kandu, the broadest channel between atolls in the Maldives, lie the southern atolls.
Etymology
Traditionally, Maldivians simply call this atoll Haddhunmathi, without adding the word Atholhu (Atoll) at the end. Before that the name of the atoll was Sathu Dhuvu mathi named after the seven main islands.[1]
Geography
It is mostly rimmed by
This atoll is quite regular except for the projection of the reef at its NE corner (Isdhū Muli). It closely resembles
Laamu Atoll forms the southern limit of Central Maldives. Beyond the Huvadhu Kandu, the broadest channel between atolls in the Maldives, lie the southern atolls.
Kadhdhoo Domestic Airport is located on Kadhdhoo.
Buddhism in Haddhunmathi
This atoll was playing an important role in the Maldives when the nation was a
Some of the most ancient writings of the Maldives are the Isdhū Lōmāfānu and the Dhanbidhū Lōmāfānu copperplates, relating to the conversion to Islam, the destruction of the Buddhist monuments, the beheading of the Buddhist monks and the building of mosques to replace the Buddhist temples and monasteries. These copperplates are from the year 1193 AD. The Maldivian king back then according to these documents was Sri Gadana Aditya Maharadun. A tentative transcription of the Dhanbidū lōmafānu was made by M. Ibrahim Loutfi and was subsequently published in 'Faiytūra', the organ of the Maldivian Cultural Affairs Council.
The wealth of manuscripts probably written on screwpine leaves that Maldivian monks in their Buddhist monasteries must have produced was either burnt or otherwise so thoroughly eliminated that it has disappeared without leaving any trace. Therefore, there are no samples of paintings from the Maldive Buddhist period itself. The only actual remains of the art of those times are a few sculptures and etchings on coral stone. Most of these are preserved in a little room in the Malé Museum, but many they are not properly labelled, so it is not easy to know where they come from.
A Buddha head found by H.C.P. Bell during his excavations in this atoll has disappeared, but the picture taken by Bell can be seen in his monograph.
In popular culture
Scenes from the 2016 film,
See also
References
- ^ Ali Najeeb, Dambidū Lōmāfānu. Council for Linguistic and Historical Research. Male' 2001
- ^ "HaveeruOnline - Cast heads to Maldives for Star Wars shooting". Archived from the original on 2015-12-03.
- ^ Collin, Robbie (July 16, 2016). "Star Wars: Rogue One - Darth Vader is back and other things we learned from the behind the scenes video". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ Lewis, Rebecca (December 20, 2016). "11 things you may not have known about Rogue One: A Star Wars Story". Metro. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- Divehi Tārīkhah Au Alikameh. Divehi Bahāi Tārikhah Khidmaiykurā Qaumī Markazu. Reprint 1958 edn. Malé 1990.
- Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru. Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee. G.Sōsanī.
- Ali Najeeb, Dambidū Lōmāfānu. Council for Linguistic and Historical Research. Male' 2001.
- HCP Bell, Excerpta Maldiviana. Reprint Colombo 1922/35. AES. Delhi 1999.
- H.A. Maniku & G.D. Wijayawardhana, Isdhoo Loamaafaanu.
- Bell, H.C.P., The Maldive Islands; Monograph on the History, Archaeology and Epigraphy. Reprint Colombo 1940. Council for Linguistic and Historical Research. Malé 1989.
- Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999.