Hoarafushi (Haa Alif Atoll)

Hoarafushi ހޯރަފުށި
Island
Hoarafushi Location in Maldives
Coordinates:
Country	Maldives
Geographic atoll	Ihavandhippolhu Atoll
Administrative atoll	Haa Alif Atoll
Distance to Malé	316.95 km (196.94 mi)
Government
• Council	Hoarafushi Island Council
Dimensions
• Length	1.75 km (1.09 mi)
• Width	0.45 km (0.28 mi)
Population (2006)
• Total	2,204
Time zone	MST (UTC+05:00)
Area code(s)	650, 20

Hoarafushi (Dhivehi: ހޯރަފުށި) is an inhabited island of Haa Alif Atoll, Maldives and is geographically part of the northern-most atoll in the country, Ihavandhippolhu Atoll. It is an island-level administrative constituency governed by the Hoarafushi Island Council.

The people who live in Hoarafushi claim to have originated from Gudhanfushi, a vanished island adjacent to Huvahandhoo. The population moved to Huvuhandhoo as Gudhanfushi eroded away before moving onto Hoarafushi. The new settlers also called the island 'Huvarafushi'.

Etymology

The island is named after the great frigatebird, known as the 'hoara' in Dhivehi, which used to be seen there.

Society

So far nine non-governmental organization have formed on Hoarafushi: Association for the Development and Solidarity of Hoarafushi (ADSH), Hoarafushi Sports Club, Hoarafushi Zuvaanunge Jamiyya, Past Student Association of Haa Alif Atoll School, Hoarafushi Advancement Society and Friends, Hoarafushi beleniveringe Gulhun, Hoarafushi Advancement society(HAS) and Native Society. now there is a very actice NGO that is Hoarafushi Youth Development society (HYDS)

Notable facts

• It is believed that Huyy Ali Didi, the first poet of the Maldives is buried at the Kuda mosque on this island.

External links

• Isles Profile - Hoarafushi