Seenu Atoll: History
The name Addu is believed to originate from the local language, where “ah” means eight and “dhoo” means island. This is because there were traditionally eight inhabited islands in the Addu Atoll. Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, Feydhoo, Gan, Hulhudhoo, Hulhu-Meedhoo and Meedhoo. When the British made maps of the region, they labeled it as “Addou Atoll.” This being an Anglicized version of the local name. During the Second World War, Addu Atoll was the site of a secret Royal Navy base called HMS Haitan, to take advantage of the deep anchorage and sheltered natural harbour there. Oil tanks and storage facilities were built on Gan island, together with an airstrip and a flying boat base. The base remained unknown to the Axis throughout the early years of the war.
In 1957 the base was transferred to the Royal Air Force as RAF Gan, before being closed down in 1976. The island is now the site of Gan International Airport.