| Type: | atoll of the Maldives |
| Faafu Atoll | |
| Native Name Lang: | dv |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Maldives |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Type2: | Corresponding geographic atoll(s) |
| Subdivision Name2: | Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi |
| Subdivision Type3: | Location |
| Subdivision Name3: | 3° 20' N and 3° 03' N |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Nilandhoo |
| Leader Title: | Atoll Chief |
| Leader Name: | Abdulla Jameel http://www.atolls.gov.mv/atollchiefs.asp |
| Population Total: | 4119 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Postal Code Type: | Letter code |
| Postal Code: | L |
| Postal2 Code Type: | Dhivehi letter code |
| Postal2 Code: | F (ފ) |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Islands |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | • Number of islands |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | 23 |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | • Inhabited islands |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | Bileddhoo * Dharanboodhoo * Feeali * Magoodhoo * Nilandhoo |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | • Uninhabited islands |
| Blank3 Info Sec1: | Badidhiffusheefinolhu, Dhiguvarufinolhu, Enbulufushi, Faanuvaahuraa, Filitheyo, Himithi, Jinnathugau, Kandoomoonufushi, Maafushi, Maavaruhuraa, Madivaruhuraa, Makunueri, Minimasgali, Villingilivarufinolhu, Voshimasfalhuhuraa |
| Footnotes: | Resort islands(*), airports(¤) and industrial islands are also considered uninhabited. |
Faafu Atoll (also known as Northern Nilandhe Atoll or Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi) is an administrative division of the Maldives. It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name.
Certain islands of this atoll used to be inhabited, like Himithi. The islanders were resettled in other islands so that Friday prayers could be held.
NOTE: Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, Baa, Kaafu, etc. (including Faafu) 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).[1]
The atoll is separated from its Sister atoll (Dhaalu Atoll) by a 6km long strip of Ocean, The atoll is also smaller than its Sister atoll (Dhaalu Atoll). The atoll contains 23 Islands, of which 5 are inhabited. The capital of the Atoll is Nilandhoo, The largest and most Populated Island in the atoll. The shape of the atoll resembles Dhaalu Atoll, but a little bit shorter.