Ihavandhoo is an island of Ihavandhippolhu Atoll. It is located in the northernmost geographic atoll in the country, and is administratively part of
Haa Alif Atoll
Haa Alif Atoll is the code name based on the letters of the Maldivian alphabet commonly used to refer to the administrative division officially known as North Thiladhunmathi Atoll ( Maldivian: ''Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi'') in the Maldives.
It is ...
. It is an Atoll-
island-level administrative constituency governed by the Ihavandhoo Island Council .
History
The story of
Mohamed Thakurufaanu
As-Sulṭaan al-Ghaazee Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-A'uẓam () (death 26 August 1585) or As-Sultan Ghazi Muhammad Bodu Thakurufaanu ruled over the Maldive Islands from 1573 to 1585. He is known for fighting the Portuguese who ruled over the Maldive ...
(Boduthankurufaanu), the Maldivian hero who defeated the Portuguese rule in Maldives, reveals that mother of Mohamed Thakurufaanu was an Ihavandhoo lady.
The island has a mosque built by Sultan Ibrahim Muhirudheen in 1701 using brain corals. Through restorations, its origin is maintained as the mosque is the only remaining archaeological evidence in Ihavandhoo island.
Geography
The island is north of the country's capital,
Malé
Malé (, ; dv, މާލެ) is the capital and most populous city of the Maldives. With a population of 252,768 and an area of , it is also one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The city is geographically located at the southern ...
.
One of the major environmental problems faced by Ihavandhoo islanders has been
soil erosion
Soil erosion is the denudation or wearing away of the upper layer of soil. It is a form of soil degradation. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice (glaciers), snow, air (wind), plants, and ...
.
Demography
Economy
Traditionally, the island has been a pure fishing island, with the majority of the working age group being experienced fishermen. Ihavandhoo also accounts for the country's export of tuna (chilled and frozen) and dried fish.
The government owned fisheries company, Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company also operates in the region.
Education
Opened on 14 May 1969,
Ihavandhoo School
Ihavandhoo is an island of Ihavandhippolhu Atoll. It is located in the northernmost geographic atoll in the country, and is administratively part of Haa Alif Atoll. It is an Atoll- island-level administrative constituency governed by the Ihavand ...
serves as the public school in the island, providing primary to higher secondary education.
[http://isles.egov.mv/Island/Index.aspx?lid=2&tid=0&id=7 Isles: island profile] Initially, the school was named "Ihavandhoo Madharusaa", when it was owned by the local people. The school started offering secondary grades in 1998, preparing students for international
GCE Ordinary Level
The O-Level (Ordinary Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education. It was introduced in place of the School Certificate in 1951 as part of an educational reform alongside the more in-depth ...
examinations, with
A-Level
The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational aut ...
grades in 2003. The school became a government owned school in 2000.
Transport
A harbour has been dug to solve the problem of getting into the island. An area of was dredged in 1992. The harbour was repaired in 2000. This harbour plays an important role in the economy of the island especially the fact that majority of the islands working population are fishermen who had to use the harbour every day.
On 11 November 2010, the government started a project costing US$4,490,678.94 to build a new harbour. The project is yet to be finished. According to
MTCC, the contractor of the project, as of 7 September 2011, 36% of breakwater construction has been completed. This new harbour has an area of .
References
External links
Ihavandhoo Official news websiteIsles: Ihavandhoo
{{Islands of the Maldives
Atolls of the Maldives