| Type: | atoll of the Maldives |
| Vaavu Atoll | |
| Native Name Lang: | dv |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Maldives |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Type2: | Corresponding geographic atoll(s) |
| Subdivision Name2: | Felidhu Atoll |
| Subdivision Type3: | Location |
| Subdivision Name3: | 3° 41' N and 3° 13' N |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Felidhoo |
| Leader Title: | Atoll Chief |
| Leader Name: | Ali Rasheed Abdul Rahman http://www.atolls.gov.mv/atollchiefs.asp |
| Population Total: | 1601 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Postal Code Type: | Letter code |
| Postal Code: | J |
| Postal2 Code Type: | Dhivehi letter code |
| Postal2 Code: | V (ވ) |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Islands |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | • Number of islands |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | 19 |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | • Inhabited islands |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | Felidhoo * Fulidhoo * Keyodhoo * Rakeedhoo * Thinadhoo |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | • Uninhabited islands |
| Blank3 Info Sec1: | Aarah, Alimathaa, Anbaraa, Bodumohoraa, Dhiggiri, Fussfaruhuraa, Hingaahuraa, Hulhidhoo, Kuda-anbaraa, Kudhiboli, Kunavashi, Maafussaru, Medhugiri, Thunduhuraa, Raggadu, Ruhhurihuraa, Vashugiri, Vattaru, Fottheyo |
| Footnotes: | Resort islands(*), airports(¤) and industrial islands are also considered uninhabited. |
Vaavu Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives, comprising the natural atolls of Felidhu Atoll and the Vattaru Reef.
It is the smallest administrative atoll in the Maldives in terms of population.
This atoll is located 40miles from the capital Malé, 60 minutes by speedboat, and 3 hours by dhoni.
The Vaavu Atoll administrative division includes two geographical atolls.
1 - Felidhoo Atoll
The main atoll, where all islands except one are located. The atoll is shaped like a diamond (or a 45° square) which the reef of fottheyo stretching eastward
2 - Vattaru Atoll
The only atoll which is not inhabited, it contains only one island, Vattaru. It’s geographical location coupled with the fact that it’s uninhabited makes it a very isolated area that doesn’t get much visitors.
Vaavu Atoll has the largest reef in Maldives, that is the reef of Foththeyo.
The easternmost geographical point of the Maldives is located at Fottheyo Muli, close to Foththeyo-bodufushi Island.[1]
No remains from the Buddhist period have been found on this atoll.
| Name | Population[2] | Coordinates | Geographic Atoll | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 489 | 3.4717°N 73.5472°W[3] | Felidhu Atoll | ||
| 324 | 3.6803°N 73.4158°W[4] | Felidhu Atoll | ||
| 635 | 3.4619°N 73.55°W[5] | Felidhu Atoll | ||
| 101 | 3.3147°N 73.4697°W[6] | Felidhu Atoll | ||
| 73 | 3.4875°N 73.5381°W[7] | Felidhu Atoll | ||
Resort islands are classified as Uninhabited Islands which have been converted to become resorts. As of 2017, Vaavu has two resorts with 434 beds.[8] The following are the resort islands, with the official name of the resort.
| Name | Resort Name | Coordinates[9] | Geographic Atoll | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alimathaa | Alimatha Aquatic Resort | 3.5936°N 73.4978°W | Felidhu Atoll | ||
| Dhiggiri | Dhiggiri Tourist Resort | 3.645°N 73.4872°W | Felidhu Atoll |
Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, Baa, Kaafu, etc. (including Vaavu) are code letters assigned to the present administrative divisions of the Maldives. They are not the proper names of the natural atolls that make up these divisions. Some atolls are divided into two administrative divisions while other divisions are made up of two or more natural atolls. The order followed by the code letters is from North to South, beginning with the first letters of the Thaana alphabet used in Dhivehi. These code letters are not accurate from the geographical and cultural point of view. However, they have become popular among tourists and foreigners in the Maldives who find them easier to pronounce than the true atoll names in Dhivehi, (save a few exceptions, like Ari Atoll).[10]