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96-450: Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, Baa, Kaafu, etc. (including Gaafu Dhaalu) 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

192-640: A Lieutenant under Commander Thomas Elwon, Moresby was part of a two-ship exercise engaged (from 1829 to 1832) in charting the dangerous waters of the Red Sea . Later, he also charted some coralline archipelagoes of the Indian Ocean , such as the Maldives , Laccadives and Chagos in the 1820s and '30s. This work ensured that the route from Europe to the East Indies became viable for the new steam vessels. Robert Moresby

288-589: A channel through the reefs in the local Arabic), where Muslim pilgrims traditionally donned their pilgrim's garb, "water and wood were cheap, and dates excellent, but the bedu were not to be trusted. They were feared throughout the sea for ferocity and treachery," writes Moresby, "so that it is dangerous to land on that stretch of shore." During the survey of the Red Sea Robert Moresby was smitten by intermittent fevers. Finally Moresby returned to Bombay in 1833, exhausted by four years of surveying. Meanwhile,

384-509: A clearly delimited lagoon. It is a huge atoll stretching SSW for 76 kilometres (47 miles) and contains nearly forty islands generally of a fair size. Kelaa , a large island forms a prominent point in the NE of this atoll. The western boundary has fewer islands but more isolated reefs or micro-atolls (called faru in Maldivian ), with wide passages between them. The German explorer Hans Hass observed

480-429: A clearly delimited, roughly triangular, natural atoll without a distinctive name ( Fasdhūtherē merely means 'between five islands'). It is 22 kilometres (14 miles) in length from east to west. It has 11 islands with the only inhabited island being Kudarikilu Island on its SE corner just opposite Landaa Giraavaru Island of Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll . Its lagoon becomes narrower towards the west and its average depth

576-411: A few islands and isolated reefs today which form a pattern stretching from 7 degrees 10′ North to 0 degrees 45′ South. The largest of these atolls is Boduthiladhunmathi , while the atoll containing the most islands is Huvadhu . Some atolls are in the form of a number of islands by time and in the form of isolated reefs, which could be classified as smaller atoll formations. All land above the surface in

672-578: A light on it to this day. The most curious failing of Moresby's survey was his failure accurately to chart the position of El Akhawein, or The Brothers, an isolate reef in the middle of the northern half of the Red Sea, which he had not seen at all during his first investigations in 1831–32. Its position was not correctly established until the 1870s. Moresby also surveyed the Gulf of Aqaba , a narrow deep waterway between high mountains that funnels high northerly winds. It

768-490: A mystery hidden within the dangers that environed them. The beautiful maps of the Red Sea, drafted by the late Commodore Carless, then a lieutenant, will ever remain permanent monuments of Indian Naval Science, and the daring of its officers and men. Those of the Maldive and Chagos groups, executed by Commander then Acting Lieutenant Felix Jones, were, we hear, of such a high order, that they were deemed worthy of special inspection by

864-502: A natural harbour. There is a spot in the southern end known as a Kudhuheraivali (the forest of the small islet), which indicates that there was a separate little island in that area in ancient times. But long ago the channel connecting the lagoon with the ocean was closed by massive coral boulders. Thus the inside of the island is lower than its edges. In time the inner lagoon lost its saltiness and all that remains today are two small lakes, wetlands and marshy taro fields. Therefore, Fuvahmulah

960-421: A perfect semicircle on the east, but its western side is rather indented. There are not many islands on its fringes. In the interior of its lagoon there are four islands and several large farus, dry at low tide. The average depth of its lagoon is 25 to 35 fathoms (55 to 64 m). The atoll is separated from Ari Atoll by the channel known as Ariadhoo Kandu. Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi ( Southern Nilandhe Atoll )

1056-421: A rapidly expanding economy and needed improved communication with British India, with its raw materials and imperial requirements. Crucial in the development of the Red Sea route between the two countries was the harnessing of steam power, most notably in the form of the marine steam engine . A further vital factor in this revolution in trade and transport was the charting of the hazardous waterway commissioned by

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1152-623: A river pilot named Thomas Waghorn who was impressed by the steamer's steady progress against the wind up the Hooghly river to Calcutta, and indirectly by the Governor of Bombay, Mountstuart Elphinstone . A year later Elphinstone, together with the secretary of the Calcutta government and his wife, Mr and Mrs Lushington, chose to return to England via the Red Sea, sailing on a cramped little brig , Palinurus . This involved disembarking at Qusayr and crossing

1248-477: A service", Moresby noted. The summer months were particularly punishing when temperatures reached the high 40°s and the Benares seems to have been especially vulnerable. It was rare for the full complement of officers to be functioning and Elwon himself was frequently ill. In 1833 the assistant surveyor, Lieutenant Pinching, died of smallpox off Aden Settlement where he was buried. Moresby's narrative suggested that

1344-503: A small barrier reef in its southern end, it is shaped by a succession of large, separate oval reefs, like the large atolls in the North, with a clear rim of large faru to the east. In the interior the general soundings are 30 to 40 fathoms (55 to 73 m), with mud and sand. In places its lagoon contains small reef-patches, but it is generally dotted with many large coral reefs, some of which remain submerged even at low tide. Felidhe Atoll has

1440-459: A toll on his health. Thus Robert Moresby had to interrupt the task and the Northern Bank of Saya da Malha could not be satisfactorily surveyed. He sailed then back to India, for a much-needed time of rest for him and his crew. Even after the necessary period of relaxation, Moresby did not fully recover. Finally his precarious condition obliged him to give up surveying. In 1842 he was employed by

1536-517: A very irregular outline; it is surrounded by continuous barrier reefs, or by small patches with vilu separated by narrow passages. Felidhu Atoll has only 10 islands even though it is quite large. The Atoll’s western “horn” is devo westernmost point of this atoll (Fussaru) are dangerous for local navigation. Many ships plying along the route between Malé and the Southern Atolls, have been lost in these treacherous reefs. The distance between both points

1632-513: A walk along the beach was accosted by fishermen whose boat had been thus mended, who insisted on his accepting a present of two sheep and a bag of dollars. Heading out of the Gulf and down the Egyptian coast a particular danger spot was Zabargad Island (also known as St John's or Emerald Island because of ancient peridot mines); Palinurus was caught in a fearsome gale and only avoided being driven on to

1728-460: A wide array of useful hints. The list below are the names of the geographical or natural atolls and single islands of the Maldives archipelago, going from north to south, together with a brief description. Included in the description are the administrative divisions which they belong to. Ihavandhippolhu Atoll is the northernmost atoll in the Maldives,It is a small natural atoll 22 kilometres (14 miles) in length. It has 25 islands lying all around

1824-512: Is 19 fathoms (35 m). It is separated from North Maalhosmadulhu by a deep channel (known as Moresby Channel in the Admiralty Chart and Hani Kandu locally) and from the southern part of Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll by the narrow Geydhoshu Kandu (also known as Ge'aa'badhigedheytherey Kandu ) running from east to west. Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi ( Southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll ) has many large farus on its western side. Its maximum length

1920-474: Is 48 kilometres (30 miles). The inner lagoons (vilu) present an idyllic view. The depth of their waters is not more than a few meters, with perhaps a few coral heads awash. Its eastern fringe is a succession of separate, quite regular, oval reefs with some islands. The interior of the lagoon has also large faru towards its southern half. The average depth is from 24 to 27 fathoms (44 to 49 m). Goidhu Atoll or Goifulhafehendhu Atoll ( 'Horsburgh Atoll' in

2016-405: Is 57 kilometres (35 miles). The inner lagoon is open with few reefs or shoals. Its general depth is of 40 fathoms (73 m); hard bottom of sand. The Atoll is also home the eastern most island and point of the Maldives. Vattaru Atoll (Falhu) is an egg-shaped reef or small atoll about 8.5 kilometres (5.3 miles) in length. It has only one small uninhabited bushy islet close to its only entrance in

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2112-480: Is a small Atoll that closed and filled in with silt, like Nukutavake in the Central Pacific. Addu Atoll marks the southern end of the Maldive archipelago. Addu Atoll is 21 kilometres (13 miles) long and it is fringed by broad barrier reefs with large islands on its eastern and western sides. Its lagoon has no islands and is relatively open with few shoals in its centre, but having mazes of coral patches close to

2208-420: Is as much a separate atoll as Goidu or Rasdhu which are similar in structure and size. It is separated from Malé Atoll by a narrow but deep Gaafaru Kandu channel. Its lagoon has an average depth of 16 fathoms and has no coral patches or shoals in its centre. Male'atholhu Uthuruburi also known as North Malé Atoll is of irregular shape. It is 58 kilometres (36 miles) long and contains about 50 islands (including

2304-477: Is claimed that from 1829 to 1833 Moresby never left the Red Sea, however the survey data indicate that each summer there was a cessation of activity from June to November, when it is probable the ships returned to India for rest and refit. Between 1829 and 1833 the Bombay Marine's survey parties completed a full survey of the Red Sea in Benares and Palinurus . Moresby began his survey in the north, first along

2400-583: Is comparatively open, containing scattered shoal patches and no emerged islands; the bottom is muddy and the average depth is from 30 to 34 fathoms (55 to 62 m). Medhuthila atoll is speculated to be a newly forming atoll of the Maldives between Haddhunmathi and Huvadhoo Atoll. There is currently not much research done about the atoll. Huvadhoo Atoll ( 'Huvadu Atoll' in the Admiralty Chart) measures 79 kilometres (49 miles) from north to south, embracing an area of about 2,900 square km. Huvadhu Atoll

2496-590: Is comparatively open, with few, but relatively greater farus as well as a few small coral patches or shoals ( giri ); average depth 27 to 35 fathoms (49 to 64 m), muddy bottom. The eastern and western rows of atolls that form Central Maldives end in Kolhumadulu Atoll south of the channel Kudahuvadhoo Kandu. It is mostly rimmed by barrier reefs which are topped by islands or deep pools (vilu). There are many islands along its southern boundary. Owing to its typical atoll shape, it differs in no respect from atolls in

2592-400: Is especially dense towards its SW quarter, close to Kandholhudhoo Island (where there is the place most crowded with small reefs and shoals in the whole Maldives), but its narrower northern end is quite clear of reefs. The general depths of the lagoon are from 23 to 27 fathoms (42 to 49 m). Fasdhūtherē Atoll . Sandwiched between two atolls, the northern part of South Maalhosmadulu forms

2688-425: Is fringed by a well-defined and almost continuous rim-reef. The exterior islands, formed in general of coral boulders on their seaward side (futtaru) and sand on the reef’s inner face (etherevaru), are string along the east, south and SW sides of the atoll. There are over 230 islands with 30 sandy islands in the centre of its lagoon, more than any other atoll of the Maldives. The 32-kilometre (20 mi) stretch between

2784-486: Is full of coral patches. Etthingili Alifushi Atoll consists of two islands, Alifushi and Etthingili (also known as Kalhifushi), known as 'The Powell Islands' in the Admiralty Chart. The islands stand on a detached reef of their own with very deep waters (no sounding) between this reef and the northern end of the main Atoll. The length of this atoll is 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) with a width of 1 mile (1.6 kilometres). Today, of

2880-594: Is full of navigational hazards, but at that time, reliable charts were not available. Surveys of the Red Sea, other than the intimate knowledge of the waters had by Arab pilots, had begun with the Portuguese João de Castro in 1540, with his Roteiro da Mar Roxa . Knowledge had accumulated in the years since, much of it being cross-correlated by the East India Company 's first hydrographer, Alexander Dalrymple , and subsequently by his successor, James Horsburgh . By

2976-507: Is generally heavy surf all around. The Atoll has an oval-shaped lagoon (vilu) with a narrow fringing reef on its NW side. Gahaafaru Atoll also known as Gaafaru Atoll or Gaafarufalhu is a small atoll at the eastern end of a large elliptical reef that has proved disastrous to many vessels with the wrecks of Aracan (1873), SS Seagull (1879), Clan Alpine (1879), Erlangen (1894), Crusader (1905) and Lady Cristine (1974). 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) long and 8.5 kilometres (5.3 miles) wide Gaafaru reef

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3072-409: Is sandy and there are a number of coral patches and sunken reefs dotting it, except for the south-eastern side. Kaashidhu Atoll , lies towards the eastern end of the channel to which it gives its name (' Kardiva Channel ' in the Admiralty Chart). This atoll had two islands namely Kaashidhoo and Kaashidhoo Huraa from which only Kaashidhoo exists today. Kaashidhoo is surrounded by deep waters and there

3168-522: Is separated from Northern Nilandhe Atoll by a 6-kilometre-wide (3.7 mi) channel. It is larger than its northern neighbor, with a length of 38 kilometres (24 miles). It is separated from its northern sister atoll by the narrow channel called the Dheburudheetheree Kandu. Its shape is slightly oval, with some barrier reefs that are quite straight in the eastern fringe. There are 21 islands, but only two or three are on its western side. The lagoon

3264-416: Is separated from North Malé Atoll by a deep channel (Vaadhu Kandu). Oblong in shape, this atoll is 35 kilometres (22 miles) in length. It contains 22 islands, all except for 5 are situated in its eastern fringes. Inside this atoll there are also many reefs and little coral patches which make navigation difficult. The general depths of the lagoon are from 25 to 32 fathoms (46 to 59 m), sandy bottom. South of

3360-664: The Admitralty charts that differ from their local Dhivehi names (namely Malcolm Atoll , Horsburg Atoll and Ross Atoll ) were named by Robert Moresby in honor of famous commanders and officers of the British Empire , after the Moresby Cartographic Survey (1834–1836) of the Maldive Islands. There are broad channels between the atolls known locally as kandu . These were important for ancient mariners plying along

3456-585: The British East India Company and carried out by Commander Thomas Elwon of the Bombay Marine in the ship Benares , supported by his second-in-command, Lt Robert Moresby in the Bombay Marine's brig Palinurus . This was the culmination of a series of efforts to get such a survey under way that the Marine had begun with the work of Lieutenant White of the Marine in the HEICS Panther in 1795. The Red Sea

3552-626: The Chagos Archipelago , has been named after this skilled British cartographer as well. However, Robert Moresby should not be confused with Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby , of the Royal Navy or Fairfax Moresby's son, Rear-Admiral John Moresby, after whom Port Moresby , the capital of Papua New Guinea, was named. Fairfax Moresby was related to Robert Moresby by the same father, but he is not mentioned by John Moresby as an uncle in that officer's biography of himself and his father, Two Admirals, Admiral of

3648-598: The North Thiladhunmathi (Haa Alifu) Atoll administrative division which also includes the northernmost portion of the Thiladhunmathi natural atoll. Boduthiladhunmathi Atoll (Tiladummati in the Admiralty Charts) is the largest of the Maldives atolls and the world's largest atoll (not taking into account the mostly submerged Great Chagos Bank and Saya de Malha Bank ). It is very open, a typical atoll without

3744-590: The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), to command their brand new and most luxurious steamer, Hindostan , on her maiden voyage from Southampton to Calcutta . Subsequently, the Hindostan was employed on the Calcutta-Suez run, the Red Sea now made safe by the immaculate surveys led by Elwon and Moresby. Moresby's charts were so good that they were favoured by Maldivian pilots navigating through

3840-584: The spice route trying to bypass the long atoll chains without harm. The most important ones were the Maliku Kandu , the Kardiva Channel and the Suvadiva Channel . Robert Moresby Robert Moresby (15 June 1794 – 15 June 1854 ) was a captain of the East India Company 's Bombay Marine/Indian Navy who distinguished himself as a hydrographer , maritime surveyor and draughtsman . As

3936-472: The 1834-36 survey of the Maldives. According to the locals, many ships have been lost on its barren reefs with crew, cargo and all. These include the Persia Merchant (August, 1658), Hayston (July, 1891), George Reid (September, 1872) and many more. Owing to the violence of the surf and the perpendicular sides of the reef scarcely a vestige of the wreck remains after a few hours. The lagoon is quite deep but it

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4032-452: The 1990s. Nowadays there are more accurate maps of the Maldives based on satellite surveys. However, Maldivian navigators still claim that Captain Moresby's charts provide a wealth of data that the modern maps do not give. At the time that they were drawn, the maps of the Maldives were deemed of such high quality that they were inspected personally by Queen Victoria . Even today in some atolls,

4128-574: The 97-kilometre-wide (60 mi) Huvadhoo Kandu ( Suvadiva Channel ) to the north and the 49-kilometre-wide (30 mi) Addoo Kandu (South Equatorial Channel ) to the south. This is the worlds 3rd largest atoll. Geographically from the number of islands and from the area this atoll is known as the world biggest atoll. Huvadhu Atoll, located in the Maldives within the Indian Ocean, spans approximately 2,900 square kilometers (1,120 square miles) and encompasses around 255 islands within its confines. It holds

4224-413: The Admiralty Chart) is separated from South Maalhosmadulhu by a 10-kilometre-broad (6.2 mi) channel. This atoll is oval in shape and small, its greatest length being 15.5 kilometres (9.6 miles). It is composed of 7 islands, 3 of which are inhabited. The inner lagoon has a depth of 17 to 20 fathoms (31 to 37 m); it has a sandy bottom mixed with mud and clay. Unlike the lagoons of most small atolls of

4320-544: The Admiralty Chart) is the westernmost atoll in the Maldives. A large reef with lagoon, 27 kilometres (17 miles) long with and average breadth of 5 kilometres (3.1 miles). It has only one inhabited island, Makunudhoo and three other islands (namely Innafushi, Fenboahuraa and Dhipparufushi) and it lies 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) west of the NW part of the Miladhummadulhu group. It is said to have been unknown to non-Maldivians previous to

4416-616: The Arabian coast around Jiddah , then across on the African coast north and south of Qusayr. However, in the Sailing Directions for the Red Sea compiled from the journals of Commander Elwon and his own, published in 1841 as part of Horsburgh's India Directory, 5th edition, the direction of the entries follows the south to north itinerary common since da Castro's day. Every detail is noted, not only reefs, harbours and anchorages but also provisions,

4512-627: The Chagos, Robert Moresby went on to survey the Saya de Malha bank. This is a vast submerged reef south-east of the Seychelles and since there is no island above the surface, the men were forced to spend many days at sea often under difficult weather conditions. Moresby could complete only part of this survey, namely the Southern Bank, for this arduous task and the accumulated fatigue from his previous surveys, took

4608-576: The Fleet, Sir Fairfax Moresby (1786-1877), and His Son, John Moresby . Robert Moresby, the genius of the Red Sea, conducted also the survey of the Maldive Islands and groups known as the Chagos Archipelago. He narrowly escaped being a victim to the deleterious climate of his station, and only left it when no longer capable of working. A host of young and ardent officers, Christopher, Young, Powell, Campbell, Jones, Barker, and others, ably seconded him: death

4704-589: The Guinness World Record for the atoll with the most number of islands in the World. Fuvahmulah ('Fua Mulaku' in the Admiralty Chart) is a large single island (by itself a small detached atoll) which lies in the Equatorial Channel. In the distant past Fuvahmulah was a small coral atoll whose southern end was open at a spot called Diyarehifaando and the inside of the island was a saltwater lagoon forming

4800-460: The Gulf of Aqaba. Elwon in the Benares similarly criss-crossed the much more hazard-filled waters of the southern Arabian, Sudanese and Eritrean coasts. In 1832 Elwon was promoted Captain and rewarded with the dubious privilege of being appointed the Indian Navy's Commodore in the Red Sea, where he died in 1835 aged 41. Robert Moresby took over what was left of the work in the southern Red Sea. It

4896-503: The Hadhdhunmathee Atoll. Haddhunmathi Atoll ( 'Haddummati' in the Admiralty Chart) is regular in shape and 48 kilometres (30 miles) in length. Excepting for the projection of the reef at its NE corner (Isdhū Muli), it closely resembles Kolhumadulhu. Its reefs are generally of little breadth, with no signs of vilu , except for its eastern fringes which are covered with islands that are quite large by Maldive standards. The lagoon

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4992-457: The Huvadhu Atoll chief had a great measure of self-government. He even had the privilege, not granted to any other atoll chief of the Maldives, to fly his own flag in his vessels and at his residence. In January 1959, the three southern atolls: Huvadhu , Fuvahmulah and Addu , were involved in setting up the breakaway United Suvadive Republic which survived until September 1963. The name of

5088-649: The Hydrographic Service of the Royal Navy. Moresby's survey of the Atolls of the Maldives was followed by the Chagos Archipelago . where he conducted "a thorough scientific survey". He planted 30 breadfruit trees in Diego Garcia Island, the largest of the group. Moresby reported that "there were cats and chickens on the island". Some of his observations were used by Darwin in his 1842 book The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs . In 1838, after leaving

5184-421: The Maldives is of coralline origin. The atolls of the Maldives form a quite regular chain and, especially in the northern and central atolls, an arrayed structure is apparent. There are broad and deep channels between some atolls. The origin of the word "atoll" itself is in the language of the Maldives. "Atoll" (from Dhivehi : atholhu ) is now used in many languages worldwide. Traditionally, Maldivians call

5280-453: The Maldives, this lagoon is free from coral heads in its centre. Faadhippolhu Atoll (better known as Lhaviyani Atoll) is a smaller atoll with a well-defined barrier reef to the east, on which the NE monsoon (iruvai) breaks with violence. Its western side has farus and reef patches. There are about 52 islands, of which only 5 are inhabited. The lagoon is fairly open and its general depths are from 25 to 30 fathoms (about 50 m). Its bottom

5376-427: The NW and NE corners of its encircling reefs in 7 to 10 fathoms (13 to 18 m) of water. The general depths vary from 20 to 25 fathoms (37 to 46 m), with mud and sand at the bottom. The distance from Addu Atoll to the closest island in the Chagos Archipelago ( Île Yeye , Peros Banhos Atoll) is about 520 kilometres (320 miles), with nothing but deep ocean in between them. Note: Further south Haddhummati in

5472-470: The Pacific Ocean, save for its greater size. The length of Kolhumadulhu Atoll is 51 kilometres (32 miles). The lagoon is comparatively open, although it is studded with numerous small coral patches or shoals which are awash at low tide. The general depth is from 32 to 42 fathoms (59 to 77 m) and it is mud-bottomed at the centre. South of the atoll lies the deep Veymandoo Kandu channel which separates it from

5568-524: The Red Sea via an "overland route" through Egypt. An experimental vessel, HCS  Hugh Lindsay , was built in Bombay Dockyard , powered by engines sent from England, and launched for Suez in 1829; a collier loaded with Welsh coal (sent via the Cape) went ahead, convoyed by a sailing brig, HCS Thetis . Captained by a real steam enthusiast, James Wilson, Hugh Lindsay made it to Suez in thirty-four days but

5664-481: The Red Sea. Moresby warned that "should a ship touch at any part of the Red Sea not frequented by Europeans (for water, etc.), great caution ought to be adopted, to guard against treachery from the various predatory tribes inhabiting the borders of the sea." The coastal plain had been devastated earlier in the century by Wahhabi puritan Muslims from Central Arabia followed by an Egyptian invasion—none of this good news for non-Muslims. At Sharm Ghabur ('sharm' meaning

5760-542: The atoll lies the deep Fulidhoo Kandu. Thoddu Atoll is a solitary round-shaped atoll located in deep waters at the western entrance of the Kardiva Channel. Its reef is steep and it lacks a lagoon. Rasdhu Atoll also known as Rasdhukuramathi Atoll ('Ross Atoll' in the Admiralty Chart) is a small atoll with an almost round lagoon. It is located almost 8 kilometres (5.0 miles) from the NE point of Ari Atoll. The northern and western sides are one continuous barrier reef, and

5856-484: The atolls ending in '-madulu' or '-mathi' by their name without adding the word "Atoll" at the end. For example, it is correct to write simply Kolhumadulhu , without adding the word 'Atholhu' at the end. This is also the case in the atoll known as Faadhippolhu . The atolls of the Maldives are very complex structures and were formerly very dangerous for navigators. In 1834–1836, British captain Robert Moresby undertook

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5952-416: The boundary reef. One long barrier reef forms the western side of the atoll. There are several coral patches in the lagoon and the general depth in the centre is 20 to 30 fathoms (35 to 55 m). Ihavandhippolhu is bounded in the north by the broad channel known as Māmalē Kandu (or Maliku Kandu) which separates the islands of Maldives from those belonging to India. Administratively, Ihavandhippolhu belongs to

6048-465: The capital Malé). There are also sandbanks, coral patches, innumerable farus and submerged shoals (called "haa" in Dhivehi ). The general depths of the interior are between 25 and 35 fathoms (46 to 64 m). The bottom is sandy. There are numerous passages on all sides. Seen from space it is considered one of the most beautiful atolls on the planet. Male'atholhu Dhekunuburi also known as South Malé Atoll

6144-691: The centre of this part is 20 to 25 fathoms (37 m to 46 m) and the bottom is sandy. Along its western edges there are not many islands but more detached reefs with shallow lagoons (called vilu in Maldivian ) which seldom exceed 10 fathoms (18 m) in depth. Administratively, Thiladhunmathi Atoll together with the Miladhunmadulu group are divided among four administrative divisions, namely North Thiladhunmathi (Haa Alifu) Atoll , South Thiladhunmathi (Haa Dhaalu) Atoll , North Miladhunmadulu (Shaviyani) Atoll and South Miladhunmadulu (Noonu) Atoll . Māmakunudhoo Atoll or Makunudhoo (Malcolm Atoll in

6240-483: The channels of Kaadedhoo Kandu and Fiyoaree Kandu alone has 77 islands, only 5 being inhabited and many unnamed. The atoll's lagoon is open and very free from reef patches, although some precipitous shoals approach the surface. The lagoon bottom is covered with sand and has a maximum depth of 50 fathoms (91 m), being on average deeper than any other lagoon of the Maldive Atolls. It is a relatively isolated atoll with

6336-509: 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). Historically

6432-505: The collier was later wrecked on a reef, a fate which narrowly missed befalling the Thetis , on a reef subsequently named after her, just south of Yanbu on the north Arabian coast. Drastic measures were clearly needed to prevent these disasters and a rather old ship and a brig were made ready for surveying work despite the reluctance of the East India Company in London to provide finance. The brig

6528-734: The desert to the Nile in the customary four days. Back in Britain Elphinstone joined the campaign, promoted by the visionary new commander of the Bombay Marine (renamed the Indian Navy on 1 May 1830), Sir Charles Malcolm , to introduce steam to the Red Sea, which would enable boats to navigate up the Gulf of Suez against those tiresome northerlies. Waghorn and other entrepreneurs in Britain and Egypt were meanwhile working at linking Mediterranean steam crossings (already overcoming its infuriating calms) with

6624-540: The eastern side is another. The 7-kilometre-wide (4.3 mi) lagoon has soundings from 15 to 20 fathoms (27 to 37 m) and abounds in detached coral patches. Ari Atoll is the second westernmost atoll of the Maldives, only after Maamakunudhoo Atoll. It is oblong in shape, 89 kilometres (55 miles) in length by only 31 kilometres (19 miles) in breadth. It contains some 50 islands, generally small, which lie mainly along its eastern fringe. Its features are intermediate between Maalhosmadulhu and North Malé atolls. Except for

6720-714: The essential water (often awful) and fuel supplies. A fuller and more graphic narrative of the upper half of the survey is contained in Lieutenant James Raymond Wellsted 's account, in the second volume of his Travels in Arabia (1838). Wellsted had joined the Palinurus in 1830. The reefs were mostly surveyed from local boats with local pilots, the names of the thirteen pilots embarked in the Benares from time to time appearing in Commander Elwon's journal. This survey

6816-471: The formation of this phenomenon called "micro-atoll" by Porites corals in the Maldives. Its lagoon has few shoals but many large faru , often topped with islands. The average depth is from 18 to 24 fathoms (33 m to 44 m). The Miladhunmadulu group is also naturally a part of Thiladhunmati Atoll, comprising the southern half of the atoll. The length of this part of the atoll is 81 kilometres (50 miles) and it contains 101 islands. The general depth of

6912-547: The formerly uninhabited island of Kaadedhdhoo was opened in 1993. In 2006 the Tourism Ministry of Maldives released the island of Vatavarrehaa for tourist resort development. A 150-bed resort is planned, this is the first resort to be built in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. Gaafu Dhaalu has a tropical rainforest climate ( Köppen : Af ) with heavy rainfall year-round. There are important Buddhist archaeological remains on

7008-454: The horizon for many dozens of miles. The names of the natural atolls of the Maldives are the names given to them by the first settlers of the country or the names derived from these. The atolls are usually named after islands that belong to the atoll and perhaps those that were the first sites of settlements in each atoll, or the main island of each atoll. The etymology of the names of the atolls can be traced as follows. The few atoll names on

7104-571: The islands of Fiyoaree , Gan, Vādū and others. These ruins consist mainly of large ruined stupas . The stupa in Gan was partially explored by Thor Heyerdahl 's archaeologists in recent test-excavations. However, all other ruins have not been well researched yet. 0°25′N 73°10′E  /  0.417°N 73.167°E  / 0.417; 73.167 Atolls of the Maldives The Maldives are formed by 20 natural atolls , along with

7200-435: The laborious and difficult cartography of the Maldives, drawing the first accurate maritime charts of this complicated Indian Ocean atoll group. These Admiralty charts were printed as three separate large maps by the Hydrographic Service of the Royal Navy. Although they contain a few errors, Moresby's charts were so good that they were favoured by Maldivian pilots navigating through the treacherous waters of their atolls until

7296-499: The middle of the vast emptiness of the Huvadu Channel there is a small bank known as Medutila (also called Derahaa ). This place is the peak of a submarine mountain, and perhaps an atoll in the process of formation. This bank is very difficult to spot for at its shallowest point there is a depth of 6 fathoms (11 m). It looks like a paler blue patch surrounded by huge expanses of the deepest ocean. There, no island can be seen in

7392-476: The modern day marine GPS can be inaccurate. The GPS mapping may indicate reef where it does not exist and does not show other reefs where they are located. Owing to the many beautiful diving grounds of the numerous atolls of the Maldives, this country has been marketed as a prime destination for scuba divers worldwide. Hence, during the last couple of decades many guides and maps of the best diving spots have been published and some of them are very accurate and give

7488-406: The rigging to spot reefs which everyone had declared were just wash from clashing tides; they lowered anchors to three fathoms but the vessel swung round and suddenly there was no bottom under the stem at eighty fathoms. In Wellsted's opinion four years in the Red Sea was nothing like as bad as 150 kilometres in the Gulf of Aqaba. On shore the crew helped locals repair their boats and Moresby going for

7584-414: The rocks by hooking a kedge anchor on to a hole in the reef. "An uncomfortable night was spent by all." Moresby always records the availability or otherwise of fuel, provisions, water, attitude of locals: availability of water was sometimes dependent on their being able to roll the ship's casks to and from the source. Onshore reception was variable owing to the long tradition of piracy in the northern end of

7680-534: The secessionist state was taken from the ancient name of this atoll. In some islands, like Gaddhū, there was opposition to the secession, and by means of threats and arson, the groups of people opposing the Suvadive state were forced to agree. Havaru Thinadhoo was burnt down by soldiers sent by then Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir from Malé during the secession in 1962, after which it was left uninhabited for four whole years. The Kaadedhdhoo Domestic Airport , located on

7776-580: The son of another liaison of his father, which might explain his employment in the Bombay Marine, which suffered greatly from being at the bottom of the East India Company's pecking order. In the nineteenth century, the sea route between the Mediterranean Sea and India would come to play a key role in a new era of communication. Already before the opening of the Suez Canal , industrial Britain had

7872-488: The south. The depth of its inner lagoon is between 12 and 20 fathoms (22 to 37 m) and its bottom is sandy. Mulaku Atoll is a very shut-in atoll with an open lagoon surrounded by barrier reefs which are remarkably straight and broad in its western fringe. It is separated from the other Maldive atolls by the channels Vattaru Kandu in the north, Kudahuvadhoo Kandu in the south and the Hatharu-Atholhu Medu Kandu in

7968-456: The survey at Khor Shinab on the north Sudan coast, with Moresby and the Palinurus surveying the less known northern half of the Red Sea and Elwon in the less handy Benares dealing with the southern half. Moresby's data reveal the Palinurus criss-crossing the southern part of this area between Jiddah, Hurghada and Qusayr and up the Gulf of Suez during 1830 and 1831. In 1832 the Palinurus worked in

8064-540: The time of the Elwon/Moresby survey, the marine steam engine appeared to be racing to the rescue of British communications with India; the engine, first tested on Scottish lochs and American rivers, was by 1826 attempting the Cape route to India . In that year a 479-ton wooden paddle steamer , HEICS Enterprise , steamed (mostly sailed in fact) from London to Calcutta . Its progress was particularly noted by two individuals:

8160-505: The treacherous waters of their atolls until the 1990s, when satellite images appeared. In the Maldives a channel locally also known as Hanikandu , between Northern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll and "Fasdhūtere" Atoll, is still known as ' Moresby Channel ' in the honor of this forgotten captain and draughtsman, who with much patience and hard work charted all the Atolls of the Maldives . Moresby Island , an island in Peros Banhos Atoll in

8256-653: The triangulation started from Suez , as the nearest point to Cairo for those crossing Egypt by the Overland Route. However, the detailed journal in the British Hydrographic Office Archive suggests quite a different order, with both ships setting out from the middle and Moresby and the Palinurus going first to Jiddah, the confusion perhaps arises from the fact that the journal, comprising the two parts completed respectively by Moresby and Elwon, though signed and submitted to Sir Charles Malcolm by Elwon,

8352-480: The two islands, only Alifushi is inhabited. Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi ( Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll ) is 71 kilometres (44 miles) in length from N to S, and 26 kilometres (16 miles) across at its broadest part. Its western fringe is composed of a series of round or oval reefs (farus) irregularly placed (a feature peculiar to all the larger Northern Atolls). The centre is heavily dotted with coral patches ( giri ), some submerged and some awash. The concentration of giri

8448-541: The valiant Palinurus sailed on to survey the southern coast of Arabia under Captain Stafford B. Haines , who would later become the first British official in charge of the Protectorate of Aden . The Red Sea charts of Moresby and Elwon were drafted by chief draughtsman Felix Jones to a scale of one inch to the mile (in the trickier parts, ten inches to the mile), and published in 1834. They included two main sheets covering

8544-470: The west. Mulaku Atoll is 48 kilometres (30 miles) long and contains 21 islands, which lie mostly on its SE quarter. The shoals inside the lagoon are generally smaller than in the Northern atolls. There are many coral patches and the depth of the water varies from 28 to 40 fathoms (51 to 73 m); sandy bottom. Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi ( Northern Nilandhe Atoll ) is 29 kilometres (18 miles) long. It forms

8640-646: The whole sea, with two further sheets with detailed plans of anchorages. After the completion of the Red Sea Survey, Robert Moresby was sent to chart various coral island groups lying across the track of India -to- Cape trade. In 1834–1836 Moresby, assisted by Lieutenants Christopher and Young, undertook the difficult cartography of the Maldive Islands , drawing the first accurate maritime charts of this complicated Indian Ocean atoll group (Admiralty Charts). These charts were printed as three separate large maps by

8736-515: Was HCS  Palinurus , the same vessel that had transported the Elphinstone party to Qusayr in 1827. She was captained by Robert Moresby, who had already gained experience from having surveyed the Laccadive Islands . The ship HCS Benares was the senior vessel in charge of the survey under the captaincy of Thomas Elwon. Each vessel had a complement of about ten officers. The two ships began

8832-503: Was a son of Mr Fairfax Moresby of Lichfield, Staffs, late of India, where Fairfax Moresby had practised as a lawyer. Fairfax Moresby and his wife Mary Rotten had 6 boys and 3 girls, the eldest of whom was Sir Fairfax Moresby , Admiral of the British Fleet, and Commander in Chief, Channel Squadron and Pacific Station. Robert Moresby's relation to the family is uncertain and it is possible he was

8928-427: Was an arduous task and the ships suffered. Palinurus had been forced to return to Bombay in 1830 for refitting after surveying the Gulf of Suez , while Benares had to be sent back in 1831 in a shattered state, the leaky tub caught forty-two times on coral reefs). "This heated funnel of reef-bound sea", as Moresby referred to it, took its toll on the surveyors; "great dangers and privations were inseparable from such

9024-463: Was bound in the incorrect sequence. At Suez itself Moresby noted, "provisions are plentiful and good—oranges, pears, apples, plums in season. And there were plenty of fine cabbages!" In the Gulf there were some nasty spots whose names indicate the hazards— Moresby Shoal for instance, and Felix Jones Patches . Another danger spot was the Daedalus Shoal at the entrance to the Gulf of Suez , which has

9120-464: Was busy amongst them for months and so paralyzed by disease were the living, that the anchors could scarcely be raised for a retreat to the coast of India. Renovated by a three-months' stay, occasionally in port, where they were strengthened by additional numbers, the undaunted remnants from time to time returned to their task; and in 1837, gave to the world a knowledge of those singular groups which heretofore "though within 150 miles of our coasts" had been

9216-519: Was such winds, so frequently mentioned in the Sailing Directions, which the steam engine was supposed to overcome. The six-kilometre-wide entrance, at the Straits of Tiran , was bad enough—wrecks are strewn over the rocks there even today. In the Gulf itself on one occasion the Palinurus was blown off her anchorage three times, once despite having fifty fathoms (90 m) of chain down on each of two anchors. Wellsted describes Moresby on one occasion springing up

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