Thoondu is a white sandy beach on the north of

Fuvahmulah Fuvahmulah (Dhivehi language, Dhivehi: ފުވައްމުލައް) is an island (atoll) in the Maldives. It is under Maldives' administrative division of Gnaviyani Atoll, Gnaviyani (or Nyaviyani) Atoll. The island is the second southernmost admini ...

Maldives The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as the Maldive Islands, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is southwest of Sri Lanka and India, abou ...

. Located within

Dhadimagu Dhadimagu () is an administrative division of Fuvahmulah, Maldives. It is the largest division of the island, located in the northern part of the island. Throughout history, many scholars and famous public figures came into being from this district ...

ward of the island, it is believed to be one of the most well known features of

. Hundreds of people visit the beach every day, and this figure is much higher during special occasions like Maahefun. Thoondu has also been declared as a Protected area of Fuvahmulah by the government of Maldives on 12 June 2012 and the Atoll Council of Fuvahmulah has also passed a Decree to establish the place as a Protected area on 19 January 2012.

Characteristics

Its sands are formed by white small round pebbles, which are unusually smooth and shiny. This kind of pebbles which sparkle even after being taken away from the beach are exclusive to

only and there is no record of such kind of pebbles from anywhere in the world except Fuvahmulah. Very commonly, visitors to the island collect pebbles from Thoondu as souvenirs. It is common for an annual phenomenon called Bissaaveli to form at the Thoondu. The Bissaaveli forms when part of the sand of the beach moves away from the shore towards the edge of the reef, thus creating a lagoon, enclosed by sand and the shore of the island. This natural event attracts hundreds – possibly thousands – of locals who love to go and watch it. When it is well-formed, the Bissaveli is enclosed from all sides, creating a natural shallow swimming pool where locals like to swim. Bissaaveli too is a phenomenon which occurs only in

in the Maldivian archipelago.

References

{{coord, -0.277227, 73.417609, type:landmark_globe:earth_region:MV, display=title Landforms of the Maldives Beaches of Asia