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About Meedhoo
According to some old texts Meedhoo is 2,500 years old. The island is also the very first to embrace Islam. Despite of its small population and distance from the capital city Malé, Meedhoo remained an influential part in Maldivian affairs. With a rich history and producing a number of great scholars.
Addu probably has the largest population serving the tourism industry since its inception
Biosphere Reserved Places
The Addu Atoll Biosphere reserve is located north of the Chagos Archipelago and is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. Consisting of about thirty small islands, the biosphere reserve is approximately 13000 hectares. Addu Atoll is a city with a population of 10,000 people. The majority of this biosphere reserve is made up of marine ecosystems as well as highly diverse reef ecosystems. There are 30 islands with about 17 of them uninhabited. Addu Atoll is divided by four channels, Gan Kandu, Viligilikandu, Maakanda and Kodakanda. The islands are formed by the peripheral reef.
The state granted four eco-rich sites in Addu a status of protection comprising of the:
'Kudakandu' area in Addu's lagoon,
'Maakilhi' and 'Fehele kilhi' in Hithadhoo, '
Maafishi Kilhi' (Keyvakaa Gon’do) in Hulhudhoo
Mathi kilhi' at the intersection of Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo.
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ADDU MEEDHOO- ADDU CITY
Meedhoo offers visitors an abundance of activities in the city. The pristine natural environment unique to Addu varies from bird watching to observing sunsets at the Southernmost point in the Maldives. Addu Meedhoo has the perfect balance of increasing urban life and the unique natural environments and offers a variety of locations for guesthouse development.
Addu City is the second largest atoll in the country. Gan International Airport was initially a military base developed by the Royal Navy. In the modern age, regular flights operate between GIA and Male’ and other domestic airports. Three main islands are connected by paved roads and public ferries; private boats for hire are available to travel to other islands nearby. Addu City also offers a wide range of small shops and supermarkets operated by the local community.
The people of Addu City have always played a large role in the development of the Maldivian tourist industry, thus benefiting the local community with a wide range of skills, human resources and experience in the hospitality sector.
Unlike other atolls of Maldives, Addu Atoll or Addu City possesses a natural anchorage within the atoll basin, as the atoll is land-locked with large islands surrounding it. This results in a natural harbor that is very calm and safe for sea vessels at all times, unaffected by seasonal changes.
Coconut palms, the national tree, are able to grow almost everywhere on the Islands. The islands possess small lakes, wetlands, and unique marshy taro fields.
The White tern known colloquially as the "dhondheeni, a rarity as it is only found in the Addu Atoll within the Maldives.
Addu Atoll also possesses particularly rich whale and dolphin fauna. A great diversity of species has been found there. Addu Atoll is the only area in the Maldives that was not affected by the 1998 global coral bleaching. The south of the Maldives was spared from the “too warm” major ocean currents (El Niño); the bright and healthy corals start at the top of giris and thilas (about 1 meter [3 ft] under the surface) and slope down with the reef to a depth of 30 meters (98 ft) or more.
