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soft corals, reef-associated fish species, marine turtles, Manta Rays and Whale Sharks. In addition to its 12,170 inhabitants, some 350,000 tourists visit the biosphere reserve annually. As part of a Global
Environment Facility (GEF) project, the site has great potential for demonstrating sustainable development throughout the Maldives and the region, while relying on a green economy.
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The
Maldives harbors globally-significant biodiversity in its numerous reefs and demonstrates a long history of human interaction with the environment. Covering approximately 139,700 ha of coastal/marine areas, the site is representative of the Maldives’ high diversity of reef animals, with hard and
268:. It consists of three separate natural atolls, namely southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll (which is 42 km long and 32 km wide and consists of 9 inhabited islands), the Fasdūtherē Atoll (wedged in between the two Maalhosmadulu Atolls and separated from north Maalhosmasdulu Atoll by Hani Kandu or
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The atoll is formed by 105 coral reefs, representing a reef surface of 263 km. This reef surface is 61 islands provided with vegetation, and a variable number of sandy bays (between 4 and 14). Half (38) of these islands are less than 10 hectares, constituting less than 20% of the atoll lands.
222:, Fulhadhoorah kairi finonolhu, Funadhoo, Gaagandufaruhuraa, Gaavillingili, Gemendhoo, Hanifaru, Hanifarurah, Hibalhidhoo, Hirundhoo, Horubadhoo, Hulhudhoo, Innafushi, Kanifusheegaathu finolhu, Kanifushi, Kashidhoogiri, Keyodhoo, Kihaadhufaru, Kihavah-huravalhi, Kudadhoo, Kunfunadhoo,
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Baa Atoll consists in two roughly circular sub-atolls, separated by the narrow
Kudarikilu Kandu channel. The total measures approximately 38 km wide (east-west) for 46 km long (north-south), covering a surface of 1 127 km surface.
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Situated on the west of the
Maldives atoll chain, it consists of 75 islands of which 13 are inhabited with a population of over 11,000 people. The remaining 57 islands are uninhabited, in addition to eight islands being developed as resorts.
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congregate to mate, although recent research suggests otherwise with the vast majority of the whale sharks seen there being young males. The bay however regularly sees some of the largest gatherings of
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The biggest island is
Dharavandhoo (45,5 ha), followed by Kunfunadhoo (35 ha). The highest point, although difficult to establish, is situated in Funadhoo., with 3,19 m over the sea level.
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found in the
Maldives, including large mangroves and a unique diversity of fauna, such as the benthic fauna. Furthermore, the ring-shaped reef forms known as
230:, Miriandhoo, Muddhoo, Muthaafushi, Nibiligaa, Olhugiri, Thiladhoo, Ufuligiri, Undoodhoo, Vakkaru, Velivarufinolhu, Veyofushee, Vinaneih-faruhuraa, Voavah
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Ahivaffushi, Aidhoo, Anhenunfushi, Bathalaa, Bodufinolhu, Boifushi, Dhakendhoo, Dhandhoo, Dhigufaruvinagandu, Dhunikolhu, Enboodhoo, Fehenfushi,
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The
Fisheries Ministry of the Maldives has banned catching turtles or taking eggs from Olhugiri, which also applies to 11 other islands.
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Paul S. Kench et al., « The geomorphology of Baa (south
Maalhosmadulu) atoll and its reef islands », in Andréfoüet & al.,
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The
Maalhosmadulu Atolls seen from space. The Southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll and Fasdūtherē Atoll (centre) make up Baa Atoll
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Biodiversity, resources, and conservation of Baa atoll (Republic of
Maldives) : a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve
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in June 2011 was a significant achievement for the Maldives. placing it in the company of world famous sites such as
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421:. Olhugiri is well known for its unique natural vegetation and for providing two of the only perching sites for the
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Hanifaru Bay which is known locally as Vandhumaafaru Adi is thought to be one of the few places in the world where
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worldwide with up to one hundred individuals in the small inlet when the tide pushes plankton into the bay.
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Resort islands(*), airports(¤) and industrial islands are also considered uninhabited.
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The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom
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in the Maldives. Likewise, other marine creatures such as sea turtles and
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A typical desert island of Baa atoll, with its reef on the first ground.
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Maalhosmadulu Atoll is also considered as a good example of the rich
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Voavah (also known as Hafnas) is the first island designated by
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Island is traditionally well known for lacquerwork handicrafts.
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Baa atoll shelters an important population of manta rays (
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in the North Maalhosmadulu Atoll lies 13 km north of
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A typical underwater landscape of Baa atoll, with a
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280:(Horsburgh Atoll in the Admiralty charts).
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687:administrative divisions of the Maldives
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413:The southernmost uninhabited island of
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886:Administrative atolls of the Maldives
618:. Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee. G.Sōsanī.
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539:(Ayer’s Rock) in Australia and the
523:The designation of Baa Atoll as a
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649:Facts and figures about Baa Atoll
616:Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru
406:structure which is unique to the
69:Corresponding geographic atoll(s)
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326:Sky view of a part of Baa atoll.
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429:turtles can be encountered.
386:Marine wildlife of Baa Atoll
246:Southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll
610:Divehi Tārīkhah Au Alikameh
464:Coral landscape in Voavah.
211: • Uninhabited islands
53:Location of Baa in Maldives
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272:) and the smaller natural
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250:Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi
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151: • Inhabited islands
143: • Number of islands
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651:(archived 11 March 2007)
364:Biodiversity and ecology
100: • Atoll Chief
262:administrative division
891:Atolls of the Maldives
419:Goifulhafehendhu Atoll
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278:Goifulhafehendhu Atoll
258:Goifulhafehendhu Atoll
639:http://www.baa.gov.mv
535:island in Indonesia,
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80:5° 23' N and 4° 49' N
31:atoll of the Maldives
16:Atoll of the Maldives
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622:Xavier Romero-Frias
495:Bottlenose dolphins
450:Maldivian clownfish
133:Dhivehi letter code
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115: • Total
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628:. Barcelona 1999.
541:Galápagos Islands
529:Biosphere Reserve
503:Biosphere reserve
423:great frigatebird
254:Fasdhūtherē Atoll
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862:5.133°N 72.950°E
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685:First-level
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569:Reethi Beach
557:Four seasons
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155:Dharavandhoo
103:Ahmed Afrah
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288:Thulhaadhoo
205:Thulhaadhoo
123:Letter code
880:Categories
828:Fuvahmulah
781:Gaafu Alif
746:Alif Dhaal
706:Haa Dhaalu
580:References
518:manta rays
244:(includes
197:Kudarikilu
181:Hithaadhoo
164:Eydhafushi
110:Population
95:Government
89:Eydhafushi
791:Gnaviyani
741:Alif Alif
731:Lhaviyani
711:Shaviyani
427:hawksbill
350:Sight of
294:Geography
276:known as
242:Baa Atoll
228:Milaidhoo
193:Kihaadhoo
173:Fulhadhoo
169:Fehendhoo
23:Baa Atoll
701:Haa Alif
563:See also
415:Olhugiri
408:Maldives
266:Maldives
260:) is an
216:Finolhas
185:Kamadhoo
159:Dhonfanu
77:Location
63:Maldives
853:72°57′E
398:in the
264:of the
201:Maalhos
189:Kendhoo
177:Goidhoo
85:Capital
59:Country
850:5°08′N
811:Cities
766:Dhaalu
694:Atolls
553:UNESCO
547:Voavah
533:Komodo
527:World
525:UNESCO
448:and a
256:, and
118:13,000
776:Laamu
761:Faafu
756:Meemu
751:Vaavu
736:Kaafu
716:Noonu
537:Uluru
402:is a
274:atoll
137:B (ބ)
823:Addu
818:Malé
771:Thaa
404:reef
396:faru
372:The
354:, a
726:Baa
721:Raa
376:of
248:or
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