Kulhudhuffushi
Kulhudhuffushi (Dhivehi) is the capital of Haa Dhaalu Atoll administrative division on Thiladhunmathi Atoll in the north of the Maldives. Kulhudhuffushi is known as the "Heart of the North". The island is famous for its mangroves (kulhi), after which the island itself is named.
Kulhudhuffushi City | |
|---|---|
Capital Island of South Thiladhunmathi atoll | |
  Kulhudhuffushi City Location in Maldives | |
| Coordinates: 6°37′21.04″N 73°4′12.9″E | |
| Country | Maldives |
| Geographic atoll | Thiladhummathi Atoll |
| Administrative atoll | Haa Dhaalu Atoll |
| Distance to Malé | 274.96 km (170.85 mi) |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 2.900 km (1.802 mi) |
| • Width | 1.800 km (1.118 mi) |
| Population (2014)[1] | |
| • Total | 15,875 (including foreigners) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 (MST) |
| Website | kulhudhuffushicity.gov.mv |
History
In the years 1812, 1819 and 1921, the island was affected by heavy rains and storms, causing substantial damage. The island was also affected during the Keylakunu storm which lost half the population of the island. Since then the island has been famous for unity and hardworkers around the Maldives. The ancient people of the island of Kulhudhuffushi were famous for the courage and bravery during the wars fought against the enemies of the nation. Apart from that, the people of Kulhudhuffushi City led the whole atoll Thiladhunmathi in a rebellion act held against the Malé government during the 1940s because of the unjust governance for the people of the north at the time.
Geography
The island is 274.96 km (171 mi; 148 nmi) north of the country's capital, Malé.[2]
The island is one of the biggest and most populous islands in the Northern part of the Maldives. The island itself is the administrative capital of the South Thiladhunmathi Atoll
Transport
The new Kulhudhuffushi Airport (IATA: HDK, ICAO: VRBK) has been opened in August 2019 and now serves the island.
Demography
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 6,998 | — |
| 2014 | 8,226 | +17.5% |
| 2006-2014: Census populations Source: [3] | ||
Economy
Kulhudhuffushi City is the economic capital of the northern Maldives. Residents of the city and surrounding settlements are mostly employed in the service or produce sectors; such as the local Saturday Market. Saturday market is a market which is held in every Saturday at "Bandaara road" Kulhudhuffushi, where local farmers products and domestic food is available. Hundreds of islanders of Thiladhunmathi visit for shopping and business to kulhudhuffushi City mostly on Saturdays.
People from the island are known and famous for shark fishing, blacksmith works, producing coir rope, building boats and working in cargo vessels. The culture of the island have its own uniqueness until now.
Education
H.Dh Kulhudhuffushi includes 5 schools.
| No. | Island | Name | Grades | Founded |
| 1 | Kulhudhuffushi | Ameer Ameen School | Pre-School | c. 1944 |
| 2 | Kulhudhuffushi | H.Dh Atoll Education Centre / AEC | Primary School, Grades 1-10, and also Kindergarten (between age 4-6) | March 1, 1979 |
| 3 | Kulhudhuffushi | Afeefuddin School | Primary School, Grades 1 - 10 | April 25, 2004 |
| 4 | Kulhudhuffushi | Jalaluddin School | Secondary School,Grades 1 - 12 | February 15, 1998 |
| 5 | Kulhudhuffushi | MNU Campus | Maldivian National University | 2003 |
| 6 | Kulhudhuffushi | Villa College Campus | Villa College | 2007 |
| 7 | Kulhudhuffushi | MI College Campus | Certificate 1 to Bachelor Degree | 2012 |
Health
Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital is an A-category hospital that serves the residents of the island and the islands of the region.
Sport
Azneem Ahmed qualified for the 100-meter sprint in the 2012 London Olympics. Kulhudhuffushi is regarded as the basketball champions of the Maldives.[4] Adam Ismail was a footballer during late 1950s at the time when Maldives got independence and started playing international football and also a martial artist. Football is the most widely played sport and the island holds the highest number of quality football grounds around the nation except Male'. The national 2015 President's Cup Group A matches were held in Kulhudhuffushi.[5]
Notable residents
- Azneem Ahmed - An Olympic sprinter who holds three national records.
- Corporal Hussain Adam - A Maldivian soldier who died while defending the Maldives National Defense Force headquarters, during the 1988 Maldives coup d'état on 3 November 1988
References
- "Table PP5: Resident Population by sex, nationality and locality (administrative islands), 2014" (PDF). Population and Households Census 2014. National Bureau of Statistics. p. 33. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- "Coordinate Distance Calculator". Boulter.com. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- "Table 3.3: Total Maldivian Population by Islands" (PDF). National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- 2015 President's Cup. Retrieved 20 March 2016.