Travel Guide Atoll De Faadhippolhu (Lhaviyani)

Faadhippolhu, an administrative name Lhaviyani, is a small atoll extending over 37 km from east to west, and 35 km from north to south. Located 120 km from Malé, we go there by plane while the supply is made by dhonis, for journeys that therefore last 8 hours! The atoll comprises 52 islands, of which only 5 are inhabited by Maldivian. Most of the islands of the atoll are large, very green and located in a inusuelle way on the outer circle of the atoll. Of the 11 108 people living in Faadhippolhu, more than half live in the capital, namely Naifaru. The main activity of the inhabitants is, of course, fishing, whose art is recognised to Malé. So it is not really surprising that here we find the Felivaru Tuna Canning Factory, namely: the only tuna container factory in the country. The plant produces about 90 000 tonnes of canned tuna per year; it employs two thousand people. All fish used for this industry are still caught according to the old fishing technique, thereby encouraging an environmentally friendly industry and towards sustainable development. At present, the island of Maafilaafushi, north of the atoll, must normally be repeuplement. 100 people live there and the government has already provided important infrastructure such as a school, a care centre and, of course, a mosque. The first island hotel opened in 1988. For a long time, she was able to enjoy total solitude, but had been joined since 1998 by four others. The particular situation of the atoll is that its seabed is very poorly frequented and very fish, offering possibilities for exceptional dives.