Rathafandhoo (

Dhivehi Dhivehi, also spelled Divehi, may refer to: *Dhivehi people, an ethnic group native to the historic region of the Maldive Islands. *Dhivehi language, an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Republic of Maldives ...

: ރަތަފަންދޫ) is an inhabited island of the

Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll Gaafu Dhaalu (also known as Southern Huvadhu Atoll or Huvadhu Atholhu Dhekunuburi, ހުވަދުއަތޮޅު ދެކުނުބުރި) is an administrative district of the Maldives formed by the southwestern section of Huvadhu Atoll. It was created o ...

Maldives Maldives (, ; dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, translit=Dhivehi Raajje, ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, translit=Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, label=none, ), is an archipelag ...

Geography

The island is south 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 ...

. The island is located on the southwest side of South Huvadhu Atoll.

Climate

The climate is warm and the weather is tropical year round. The temperature averages 25° to 32 °C.

Monsoon A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...

runs from May to November. The islands are closely situated to the Indian coast, are strongly affected by mainland Asian weather patterns, though do not experience serious monsoons.

Demography

Governance

Police

In late 2008, the Maldives Police Service opened a station on the island, with three police personnel.

Education

Primary and secondary education on the island is provided by Rathafandhoo School, with 154 students and 21 teachers. Pre-schools are available.

Healthcare

The Health Centre provides basic health care to the islanders for minor injuries, cuts, common colds and flu. If a serious health issue arises, islanders must go to the regional hospital located in the atoll capital Thinadhoo. The journey takes about 45 minutes via speed boat.

Economy

The most common sources of paid work for residents include mat weaving,

agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...

, reef fishing and

carpentry Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenters tr ...

and fishing for

sea cucumber Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea (). They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. Sea cucumbers are found on the sea floor worldwide. The number of holothuria ...

s, tuna and reef fish. The islanders are famous for handicrafts and making nets (kunaa), made from a local plant called ''Hau''. Some islanders weave mats, as souvenirs for visitors.

Sea cucumber fishery

One of the main economic activities on the island is the sea cucumber fishery. The island is the collection center and major base for sea cucumber fisherman who fish in the southern part of the Maldives (Huvadhoo, Fuvahmulah and Addu city.) More than 10 registered companies carry out collecting, cooking, and drying the sea cucumbers for export to China.

NGOs

Several

non-governmental organization A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...

s are registered on the island, including some inactive ones, such as RASFARI and READY (Rathafandhoo Eminent Association of Dynamic Youth).

References

External links

World Travel Guide Article
{{Islands of the Maldives Islands of the Maldives Populated places in the Maldives