Raa Atoll
Raa Atoll (also known as Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll or Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi) is an administrative division of the Maldives. The capital is Ungoofaaru. It includes Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll proper and the island of Dhuvaafaru. Raa Atoll has the highest number of populated islands in the Maldives.
1. Alifushi and Etthingili (Powell Islands in the Admiralty Chart) stand on a detached reef of their own with very deep waters (no sounding) between this faru and the northern end of the main atoll.
2. Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll is 35 miles (56 km) in length from N to S, and 15 miles (24 km) across at its broadest part. Its western fringe is composed of a series of round or oval reefs (farus) irregularly placed (a feature peculiar to all the larger Northern Atolls). The centre is heavily dotted with coral patches (giri), some submerged and some awash. The concentration of giri is especially dense towards its SW quarter, close to Kandholhudhu Island (where there is the place most crowded with small reefs and shoals in the whole Maldives), but its narrower northern end is quite clear of reefs. The general depths of the lagoon are from 23 to 27 fathoms (138 to 162 ft; 42 to 49 m).
This Atoll marks the start of the east–west divide of the Maldivian Atolls between Kaashidhoo Kandu and Kudahuvadhoo Kandu.
The capital of Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll is Ungoofaaru. Recently, the island has been reclaimed up to the edge of the reef in order to provide land for social and economic activities for the growing population.
By 1942, there were 18 inhabited islands in the atoll. However, the residents of these 18 islands were relocated to nearby islands. By 17 October 1968, there were 17 inhabited islands in the atoll. In 1968 and 1967, the people of Ufulandhoo were relocated to Alifushi in the atoll under a government project. The project was to relocate people from islands who were under 50 years of age of mandatory prayer to other islands. People were relocated from Kudafushi as because of the Second World War people were dying due to food shortages and hunger. The atoll chief governor feared that if people were not relocated to other islands they could no longer get help and with people dying the village would become empty. The people of Kudafushi were relocated to their relatives' islands upon their request. The islands that they were relocated are Meedhoo, Ufulandhoo and Maduvvari. …