Thuraakunu ( Dhivehi: ތުރާކުނު) is the northernmost island in Maldives, one of the fourteen inhabited islands of

Haa Alif Atoll Haa Alif Atoll is the code name based on the letters of the Maldivian alphabet commonly used to refer to the administrative division officially known as Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll (Maldivian language, Maldivian: ''Thiladhunmathi Uthuruburi'' ...

and is geographically part of the ''Ihavandhippolhu'' Atoll in the

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 ...

. It is an island-level administrative constituency governed by the Thuraakunu Island Council.

History

Thuraakunu is the closest island to

Minicoy Minicoy, locally known as Maliku (), is an island in Lakshadweep, India. Along with Viringili, it is on Maliku atoll, the southernmost atoll of Lakshadweep archipelago. Administratively, it is a census town in the Indian States and territories ...

. Formerly there was direct trade between both, and fishermen from both islands used to visit each other. This exchange continued even after Minicoy became part of the Indian Union after independence. However, after 1956 the Indian government forbade these visits. Now, despite the geographical proximity and ethnographic similarities, people from both islands are not allowed to meet each other.

Geography

The island is north of the country's capital,

Malé Malé is the capital and most populous city of the Maldives. With a population of 211,908 in 2022 within its administrative area and coterminous geographical area of , Malé is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The city i ...

Demography

References

* Bell, H.C.P.: The Maldive Islands, An account of the physical features, History, Inhabitants, Productions and Trade. Colombo 1883. *

Xavier Romero-Frias Xavier or Xabier may refer to: Place * Xavier, Spain People * Xavier (surname) * Xavier (given name) * Francis Xavier (1506–1552), Catholic saint ** St. Francis Xavier (disambiguation) * St. Xavier (disambiguation) * Xavier (footballer, born ...

, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999,

External links

Isles: Thuraakunu
Islands of the Maldives Lighthouses in the Maldives {{Maldives-geo-stub

History

Geography

Demography

See also

References

External links