| Type: | atoll of the Maldives |
| Thaa Atoll | |
| Native Name Lang: | dv |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Maldives |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Type2: | Corresponding geographic atoll(s) |
| Subdivision Name2: | Kolhumadulu |
| Subdivision Type3: | Location |
| Subdivision Name3: | 3° 34' N and 2° 11' N |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Veymandoo |
| Leader Title: | Atoll Chief |
| Leader Name: | - |
| Population Total: | 8901 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Postal Code Type: | Letter code |
| Postal Code: | N |
| Postal2 Code Type: | Dhivehi letter code |
| Postal2 Code: | Th (ތ) |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Islands |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | • Number of islands |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | 66 |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | • Inhabited islands |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | Burunee * Dhiyamingili * Gaadhiffushi * Guraidhoo * Hirilandhoo * Kandoodhoo * Kinbidhoo * Madifushi * Omadhoo * Thimarafushi * Vandhoo * Veymandoo * Vilufushi |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | • Uninhabited islands |
| Blank3 Info Sec1: | Bodufinolhu, Bodurehaa, Dhiffushi, Dhonanfushi, Dhururehaa, Ekuruffushi, Elaa, Fenfushi, Fenmeerufushi, Fonaddoo, Fondhoo, Fonidhaani, Fushi, Gaalee, Gaathurehaa, Hathifushi, Hiriyanfushi, Hodelifushi, Hulhiyanfushi, Kaaddoo,, Kadufushi, Kafidhoo, Kakolhas, Kalhudheyfushi, Kalhufahalafushi, Kandaru, Kani, Kanimeedhoo, Kolhufushi-1, Kolhufushi-2, Kudadhoo, Kudakaaddoo, Kudakibidhoo, Kurandhuvaru, Kuredhifushi, Lhavaddoo, Maagulhi, Maalefushi, Mathidhoo, Medhafushi, Olhudhiyafushi, Olhufushi, Olhufushi-finolhu, Olhugiri, Ruhththibirah, Thinkolhufushi, Ufuriyaa, Usfushi, Vanbadhi |
| Footnotes: | Resort islands(*), airports(¤) and industrial islands are also considered uninhabited. |
Kolhumadulu Atoll (also known as Thaa Atoll) is an administrative division of the Maldives. It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name. The ancient name of the island was Kolhumaduva during the time of King Koimala who united all atolls of the Maldives under one kingdom for the first time.
Traditionally, Maldivians call this atoll simply Kolhumadulu, without adding the word atholhu at the end. Thaa is the code letters assigned to the atoll and is sometimes used by tourists to refer to the atoll itself.
The waters surrounding this atoll are good fishing areas and some islands house fish processing plants.
Kolhumadulu Atoll comprises thirteen inhabitant islands. They are; Burunee, Vilufushi, Madifushi, Dhiyamigili, Guraidhoo, Kadoodhoo, Vandhoo, Hirilandhoo, Gaadhifushi, Thimarafushi, Veymandoo, Kinbidhoo, and Omadhoo. There are important Buddhist archaeological remains in the island of Kinbidhoo, including a large ruined stupa. These were explored by the late Muhammad Ismail Didi. A report on the survey was published in the book Divehi Tārīkhah Au Alikameh.
The Atoll is the 21st Largest Atoll In the World. The shapes of the atoll closely resembles the shape of its southern neighbor Haddunmathi Atoll, except for the projection of the reef at the NE corner of Haddunmathi Atoll (Isdhū Muli). This Atoll marks the end of the east–west divide of the Maldives Atolls between Kaashidhoo Kandu and Kudahuvadhoo Kandu.
Some islands in Kolhumadulu Atoll were severely affected by the 2004 Tsunami. Particularly Vilufushi, The island faced the most casualties out of all the other islands in the Maldives. The 1900 Citizens of the island were displaced to Burunee in the same atoll.[1] Kinbidhoo was also severely affected by the tsunami.