<!--NOTE: Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, Baa, Kaafu, etc. (including Alif 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 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). -->
Alifu Dhaalu Atoll (also known as Southern Ari Atoll or Ari Atholhu Dhekunuburi) is an administrative division of the Maldives.
The separation of Ari Atoll (formerly Alifu Atoll) on March 1, 1984, into a Northern and a Southern section formed the two most recent administrative divisions of the Maldives, namely Alifu Alifu Atoll and Alifu Dhaalu Atoll. Alifu Dhaalu Atoll lies south of the line between the channels of Himendhoo Dhekunukandu and Genburugau Kandu.
There is an ancient mosque in Fenfushi island having wooden decorated ceilings and lacquerwork panels.
Buddhist remains, including a stupa, have been found in Ariadhoo Island.
Whale sharks are year-round residents of Alif Dhaal Atoll.
Geography
The South Ari Atoll administrative division consists of the southern part of the geographic or natural Ari Atoll (described as Southern Ari Atoll in this context to differentiate from the official name of the administrative division). The atoll consists of Inhabited Islands and Uninhabited Islands, a definition which includes resort islands, airport islands, and industrial islands.
Inhabited islands
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:15%"|Name
! style="width:15%"|Population
! style="width:15%"|Coordinates
! style="width:15%"|Geographic Atoll/Island
! style="width:40%"|Remarks
|-
|Dhangethi ||713 || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Dhiddhoo || 137 || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Dhigurah ||529 || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Fenfushi ||729 || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Hangnaameedhoo || 481 || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Kunburudhoo || 606 || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Maamingili|| 2,079 || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Mahibadhoo || 1,939|| || Southern Ari Atoll || Capital of the South Ari Atoll Administrative Division
|-
|Mandhoo|| 295 || || Southern Ari Atoll||
|-
|Omadhoo||| 843 || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|}
Resort islands
Resort islands are classified as Uninhabited Islands which have been converted to become resorts. The following are the resort islands, with the official name of the resort.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:15%"|Name
! style="width:15%"|Resort Name
! style="width:15%"|Coordinates
! style="width:15%"|Geographic Atoll
! style="width:40%"|Remarks
|-
|Angaagau|| Angaaga Island Resort and Spa || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Athurugau||Diamonds Athuruga || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Dhidhdhoofinolhu||LUX* South Ari Atoll || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Dhiffushi||Holiday Island Resort || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Huvahendhoo||Lily Beach Resort and Spa at Huvahendoo || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Kuda Rah||Amaya Kuda Rah || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Maafushivaru||Maafushivaru || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Machchafushi||Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Mirihi||Mirihi Island Resort || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Moofushi||Constance Moofushi || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Nalaguraidhoo||Sun Island Resort || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Rangalifinolhu||Conrad Maldives Rangali Island || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Thundufushi||Diamonds Thudufushi || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Vakarufalhi||Vakarufalhi Island Resort || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Vilamendhoo||Vilamendhoo Island Resort || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Villingilivaru||Ranveli Village || || Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
||Huruelhi||Radisson Blu Maldives ||
unknown
|| Southern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|}
<!--===Other uninhabited islands===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:15%"|Name
! style="width:15%"|Current usage
! style="width:15%"|Coordinates
! style="width:15%"|Geographic Atoll/Island
! style="width:40%"|Remarks
|-
|Alikoirah|| || || Northern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Etheremadivaru|| || || Northern Ari Atoll || Earmarked for resort development by Emaar Group as Address Madivaru, scheduled for opening in 2020.
|-
|Fusfinolhu || || || Northern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Fushi || || || Northern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Gaagandu || || || Northern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Maagau || || || Northern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Madivaru || || || Northern Ari Atoll || Formerly Banyan Tree Madivaru, now closed
|-
|Madivarufinolhu || || || Rasdhukuramathi Atoll ||
|-
|Madoogali || || || Northern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Mathivereefinolhu || || || Northern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Mushimasmigili || || || Northern Ari Atoll ||
|-
|Vihamaafaru || || || Northern Ari Atoll ||
|}-->
References
- Divehi Tārīkhah Au Alikameh. Divehi Bahāi Tārikhah Khidmaiykurā Qaumī Markazu. Reprint 1958 edn. Malé 1990.
- Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru. Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee. G.Sōsanī.
- Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999.