An atoll is a coral island that surrounds part or all of the lagoon. Atolls come in a wide variety of shapes, configurations and sizes. The corals of the atoll crown uplifts on the ocean floor, whether it is the edge of a disappeared seamount or a volcano, which has eroded or partially collapsed under water. The lagoon forms above a volcanic crater or caldera, while the upper edge remains above water or at shallow depths, allowing corals to grow and form reefs. Since corals grow exclusively in warm seas, atolls are found only in the tropical and subtropical zones of the Earth. For many people, mesmerizing atolls with vibrant coral reefs and pristine turquoise lagoons seem to be literally inseparable from incredible sea adventures and paradise beach holidays.

10. Funafuti, Tuvalu

Tuvalu is a Pacific state in the western part of Polynesia, which consists of 4 islands and 5 atolls, scattered over 350 kilometers. "Tuvalu" in translation from the local language means "eight standing together" (this is how many inhabited islands in Tuvalu). If you look at the map, the state is located halfway between Australia and Hawaii, and is probably best known for its Internet domain ".tv". In terms of population, Tuvalu is the second smallest sovereign state in the world, with fewer inhabitants only in the Vatican. Due to the country's remoteness, there are very few tourists in Tuvalu. The capital of Tuvalu, Funafuti is a small coral atoll. Its width is about 20 meters at its narrowest part, and about 400 meters at the widest part of the island. The capital has approximately 4500 inhabitants and is a key location. There are administrative buildings, a beautiful church and a hotel near the airport.

An island is a part of the land, which is separated from the mainland by water on all sides. On our planet, you can count about half a million large and crumb ...

9. Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands

Bikini Atoll is known for three things: first, an open bikini swimsuit was named after this atoll in 1946; secondly, the events described by Janusz Vishnevsky in the novel of the same name took place here; and thirdly, during the US Pacific nuclear tests, a total of 67 tests took place here in 12 years from 1946 to 1958. 167 inhabitants of the island were relocated to neighboring safe islands. Today, Bikini Atoll is safe to visit and has less background radiation than most major cities, but the soil still contains dangerous levels of radioactive material. The fish is unaffected and is abundant here due to the lack of fishermen. Most of the visitors to the atoll are diving enthusiasts, diving to the ships sunk during the tests in 1946.

8. Tubbataha Reef, Philippines

The Tubbataha Reef Natural Park covers an area of \u200b\u200b130 hectares, including the northern and southern atolls. It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species. The North Atoll serves as a nesting site for birds and sea turtles. The nature park is a great example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100-meter perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands. Tubbataha is uniquely located in the heart of the Sulu Sea. The reef is home to whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and napoleon fish. In total, the reef ecosystem supports more than 350 species of coral and about 500 species of fish. Tubbataha Reef is one of the best diving spots in the Philippine Islands and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

7. Lighthouse Reef, Belize

Reef Lighthouse is the furthest offshore of all Belize atolls. Moreover, it is quite small, about 80 kilometers long. However, it is he who offers the best diving in the entire Caribbean. Reef Lighthouse is incredibly popular with other atolls due to the large blue hole 300 meters in diameter, which is located near its center. The Great Blue Hole offers divers interesting observations of the limestone formations (during the Ice Age, a system of limestone caves was formed here, flooded due to rising sea levels) that form its walls. Divers can encounter several interesting species of fish, including the giant grouper, nurse sharks and several species of reef sharks such as the Caribbean reef shark.

6. Tikehau or Krusenstern atoll, French Polynesia

Tikehau is located at the northwestern tip of the Tuamotu archipelago. It was discovered by the Russian navigator Otto Kotzebue in 1816. This atoll is almost circular in shape with a maximum diameter of 28 kilometers and consists of two large islands and numerous small islets. Almost the entire territory of the atoll, except for the northeastern part, is inhabited, with 400 inhabitants (according to the 1996 census), most of whom live in the village of Tucherahera. Tikehau is undoubtedly a postcard painting with long stripes of white or pink sandy islands, within which a turquoise lagoon harbors the most amazing variety of fish.

5. Caroline Island, Republic of Kiribati

First seen by Europeans in 1606, then annexed to Britain, and eventually becoming part of the independent republic of Kiribati in 1979, Caroline Island became famous for being the first on Earth (outside Antarctica) to meet the offensive on January 1, 2000. The island is one of the most pristine tropical islands and one of the most pristine atolls in the world. It is home to one of the world's largest populations of the palm thief (crab species) and an important nesting site for seabirds, especially the black tern. However, due to the fact that the highest point of the island is located at a distance of 6 meters from the sea level, there is a real threat of its flooding due to global warming and the subsequent rise in sea level. The Government of Kiribati estimates that this could happen as early as 2025.

There are thousands of islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and many of them have their own history and mysteries that have not yet been solved by ...

4. Aitutaki Atoll, Cook Islands

Aitutaki Atoll consists of several volcanic and coral islets around a triangular lagoon. The entire lagoon and its islands are stunningly beautiful. A classic card featuring a palm tree fringed by a tropical island with shallow, warm turquoise waters, corals, tropical fish and blue skies. The most popular attraction is Tapuaetai (one leg island), a small island in the southeast of the lagoon. In 2006, the American TV show Lost: Cook Islands was filmed on Aitutaki.

3. Aldabra, Seychelles

Located in the Indian Ocean, Aldabra Atoll is an outstanding example of an uplifted coral atoll. It is one of the largest atolls in the world (only Christmas Island in Kiribati is larger) and contains one of the most important natural habitats for the study of evolutionary and ecological processes. Aldabra Atoll consists of four large coral islands that surround a shallow lagoon; the island group itself is surrounded by a coral reef. Due to the difficulties of access and isolation, Aldabra Atoll was protected from human influence and thus preserved about 152,000 giant tortoises, the world's largest population of this reptile. Marine habitats range from coral reefs to algae and mangroves. In 1982, Aldabra Atoll was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique natural monument. In 2015, Czech filmmakers filmed and released the full-length documentary Aldabra. Journey to the Mysterious Island ”, which tells about the unique flora and fauna of the island.

2. Rangiroa, French Polynesia

Rangiroa is one of the largest atolls in the world and the largest atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago. The land area of \u200b\u200b79 km² is a cluster of 415 small islands. Rangiroa is a prime snorkeling destination due to the clear blue waters of the lagoon and an exceptional variety of marine life. Popular diving spots include the Blue Lagoon and Tiputa Pass. Here you can easily meet gray reef sharks, rays, manta rays, dolphins, tuna and hammerheads.

1. Atolls of the Maldives

The Maldives is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean near India. The people of the Maldives are called Maldivians and their language is known as "Dhivehi". The Maldives consists of atolls, coral reefs and coral islands that rise slightly above sea level: the highest point of the archipelago is on the southern atoll of Addu (Siena) - 2.4 m.In total, the state was formed from 26 geographic atolls, which include about 1200 islands, which are divided into 20 administrative units. Not all islands are inhabited, in fact only about 200 islands. The rest are used for various activities, the most important of which is tourism. The Maldives reef is called one of the wonders of the world in terms of marine life and coral biodiversity. The word "atoll" itself originates from the Maldivian word "atholhu".

Coral reefs - formed a unique ecosystem of the World Ocean. These calcareous geological structures are formed in tropical seas in shallow waters and cover an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 27 million square meters. km (mainly in the seas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans). - an amazing and lengthy process that has not been fully studied. And today we will get acquainted with different theories and find out how the "birth" of a reef occurs.

During the formation of coral reefs, madrepore corals form entire colonies of various shapes and sizes. This process is based on several forms, thanks to which reefs can be divided into types.

Studying corals, scientists for many years have not been able to come to a single version that can fully confirm how the formation of atolls and coral banks located in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans took place. Until now, many questions remain not fully disclosed regarding the reasons due to which coral reef formation and platforms for them.

There are various scientific theories. Some of them complement each other, while others are completely opposite to the first. What provisions of the existing theories are relevant today and are taken into account?

Coral reef formation according to Darwin's theory

Charles Darwin was the first to voice possible reasons for the formation of coral reefs. While traveling around the world, he met various fossil species of marine organisms located at high altitudes in the Andes. He made the assumption that their formation is associated with the vertical uplift of some parts of the earth's surface.

At that time it was not even supposed that some parts of the earth's crust could shift. His theory was based on two premises. One of them says that the platforms on which the coral reef formation gradually descended.

This caused the corals to grow upward, and at the same rate with which the platforms descended. A similar theory has been around for over a century and a half. She fully explained the formation of atolls and coastal and barrier coral reefs.

Great Barrier Reef

According to Darwin's theory, atolls are a kind of development of a coral structure, consisting of successive stages. Initially, a reef is formed around the volcano in shallow water, thus creating a coastal coral reef. As the volcano sinks into the sea, the corals grow upward, keeping it at the same level.

But, coral reef formation and their growth occurs not only upwards, but also towards the sea. This causes a channel to form between the reef and land. And when it reaches a certain width, it turns from coastal to barrier.

Further, the volcano descending into the sea, in the end, completely disappears in the depths of the sea, after which a ring of formed corals remains, called the atoll. In the Pacific and Indian Oceans, you can find hundreds of different atolls with completely different diameters.

Coral reef is home to numerous marine animals and plants

There are small coral reef formation whose diameter does not exceed one kilometer. And there are some atolls with a diameter of 160 kilometers. The most common are atolls, the diameter of which is within 30 kilometers.

Darwin's theory, which perfectly explained the presence of a huge number of atolls in sea waters, was preceded by a different version. It was believed that the atolls were formed by reefs growing along the edge of the craters of extinct volcanoes, which subsequently completely plunged into the sea.

But, this version could only explain the formation of coral reefs on the crater of the volcano, which was at a suitable depth. According to this theory, it was impossible to explain why a huge number of volcanic craters are located at the same depth.

Deep exploration and reef drilling support Darwin's hypothesis that coral limestone is found on older volcanic rocks. In addition, a study of coral limestone taken from deep wells confirms the fact that it was once at sea level or slightly above it.

However, not everyone coral reef formation was confirmed by Darwin's theory. So, the Great Barrier Reef is not a simple coral reef of gigantic proportions. It is a single complex consisting of a significant number of corals, different in shape and formation.

This is where I want to end the first part of the article, and if you want to learn about the conditions favorable for the growth of corals and how coral polyps breed, read the rest of the article.

And in more detail, with different types of corals, you will be introduced to these articles.

In our views, picturesque atolls, with their turquoise lagoons and colorful reefs, are closely associated with sea adventures and intense beach holidays.

For many, this strange formation is the embodiment of the dream of living on a paradise island, overgrown with tall palms and tropical flowers. But what are atolls from a geographical point of view? Where are they and how do they appear on the surface of the oceans?

What does the word atoll mean?

Term "atoll" is of Maldivian origin. In the language of the local tribes, the dhivehi word atholhu means the administrative unit that makes up the Maldives archipelago. The concept first came to the English language in 1625 thanks to Charles Darwin, who was closely engaged in the study of the structure of atolls and their distribution around the world.

Initially, the term was synonymous with a lagoon island, and later came to mean "a ring-shaped reef belt containing a lagoon."

What is an atoll?

Today, an atoll is understood as a coral island in the form of a solid or broken ring surrounding a small body of water (lagoon). Most often, such islets are located either by a seamount, which was partially washed out and submerged under water. In this case, the lagoon is a volcanic crater, and land is its rim, towering above the water.


The height of the atoll, as a rule, does not exceed 3-4 meters above sea level. If the island ring is solid, then the water in the lagoon is less salty than in the ocean. If the ring is broken, then straits appear between individual parts of the island, thanks to which salty ocean water gets into the lagoon.

What is the atoll made of?

Structurally, the atoll includes three separate parts - the outer slopes of the island, the island itself and the lagoon. The rim of the volcano is crowned with a superstructure formed by coral polyps.

In the course of their life, these invertebrates form large colonies, which, as they develop and grow, create coral reefs. The rate of rifting in the atolls is sufficient to replenish the height of the islets, which gradually decreases as the mountain top erodes and subsides.

How are atolls formed?

According to the theory of Charles Darwin, volcanoes and mountains once existed on the site of atolls, which, as a result of eruptive and other geological processes, sank under water.


In the case of volcanoes, submersion could have triggered eruptions that caused the top of the summit to collapse under its own weight and form a caldera. Over time, the volcanic edges were overgrown with coral reefs that formed a ring belt.

If the volcano does not completely sink into the water, then a so-called nuclear atoll is formed, in the lagoon of which an island of volcanic origin remains. Due to the decrease in sea level, some ring-shaped islets rise above the water and form raised atolls, which are an ordinary island (without a lagoon) with high edge ramparts along the perimeter. This is a fairly rare occurrence, but similar atoll formations can be found in the Tonga archipelago and in southern Micronesia.

Where are atolls formed?

Reef-forming corals can only exist in the warm waters of the oceans and seas, so atolls form exclusively in tropical and subtropical latitudes. The northernmost in the world is Kure Atoll, located in the northwestern part of the Hawaiian archipelago. The farthest south are the Elizabeth and Middleton atoll reefs, which stretch into the waters of the Coral Sea.

Most of the ring-shaped islands are concentrated in the Pacific and Indian Oceans - in the Maldives, Marshall and Caroline Islands, Seychelles, in the Chagos archipelago and east of Australia. There are several small atoll groups in the Atlantic located east of Nicaragua.


Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, consisting of 92 rings, is recognized as one of the largest in the world. Its total area is more than 2300 km², of which over 90% are lagoons.

"Coral islands, erected by small shark-skinned animals, present us with the largest buildings on the globe, amazing human minds," wrote the famous Russian navigator FF Bellingshausen. Indeed, the activity of corals that erected dozens of large and hundreds of small islands in Oceania, built the Great Barrier Reef, the construction volume of which exceeds 100,000 times the Great Wall of China (reef dimensions: 2000 kilometers in length, 2000 meters in height and up to 150 kilometers in width ), causes both admiration and amazement.

"Tiki" - a statue from the Marquesas Islands

And then comes the question: how did the corals manage to build islands and reefs, and especially ring-shaped atolls in the ocean? This is what Darwin wrote in his diary after he was able to survey the coral islands and reefs (during his voyage around the world in the Beagle): “Such formations, without a doubt, occupy an important place among the amazing phenomena of the world. These are not curiosities that immediately striking, but rather a miracle that strikes us after some reflection. We are surprised when travelers talk about huge heaps of some ancient ruins. But how insignificant the largest of them are when compared with the colossal amount of matter formed here of various smallest animals.On all islands, on the smallest particles and large fragments of rock, there is a single seal, indicating that they were once created by organic power.

Measuring the depth just a little more than a mile from shore, Captain Fitz Roy lowered the lot seven thousand two hundred feet long, but did not reach the bottom. Hence, we must consider this island as the top of a high mountain; to what depth the work of coral organisms extends is completely unknown. If it is correct to assume that the polyps that create the rocks continue to build on them while the volcanic base of the island gradually subsides intermittently, then the coral limestones are likely to be of great thickness. We know some islands in the Pacific, such as Tahiti and Eimeo ... which are surrounded by a coral reef separated from the coast by channels and pools of calm water. Various factors control the growth of the most productive coral species in these situations. Therefore, if we assume that such an island, after long successive interruptions, has sunk several feet ... the work of the corals will continue upward from the base of the surrounding reef. Over time, the land in the center would sink below sea level and disappear, and the corals would finish creating a circular wall. Wouldn't it have made a lagoon island then? From this perspective, we must view the lagoon island as a monument erected by a myriad of tiny architects to mark the place where the earth was buried in the ocean abyss. "

This diary entry, dated April 12, 1836, is the key to Darwin's theory of the origin of coral reefs, which he later developed in his book The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs and the world famous Voyages of a Naturalist Around the World in the Beagle. First, corals living only in shallow waters (at depths of no more than 50-60 meters) begin their activity around the coastal shoals of the island or mainland (this is how the Great Barrier Reef was formed off the coast of Australia). But the bottom - and with it the island surrounded by reefs - begins to slowly sink. Corals need sun, they cannot live at great depths - and small builders begin to erect their buildings in order to stay in shallow water as before.

The island is sinking more and more - and the space between it and the coral reef that surrounds it, which turns into a barrier reef, becomes wider. Little builders continue their titanic work, they are building a solid wall on the foundation formed by their predecessors - corals. The sinking of the bottom continues, and the sinking of the island and coral structures continues. "As the barrier reef slowly sinks, the corals will continue to grow intensively upward, but as the island sinks, the water will grab the shore inch by inch, and at first individual mountains (peaks) form separate islands within one large reef, and finally disappear and the last highest peak. The moment this happens, a real atoll is formed, "wrote Darwin.

Darwin's theory of atoll formation, like his ingenious theory of evolution, caused controversy. Some scientists, including the leading geologist Charles Lyell, admitted that Darwin was right. Others have sharply criticized his theory. Thus, the famous Alexander Agassiz announced that "Darwin, during his voyage, made observations on the move and did not want to stop anywhere", all the facts on which he builds the theory of the formation of atolls are taken "from second hand", and therefore the theory is also flawed, their explaining. According to Agassiz, barrier reefs have grown on the coastal terraces that have been created by the activity of sea waves. This explains the flat, flat bottom of the coral atoll lagoons.

A detailed and well-reasoned criticism of Darwin's theory was expressed by John Murray. Firstly, Murray noted, in a number of places there are coral reefs that rise above sea level to a fairly high altitude (on the Palau Islands in Micronesia - up to 150 meters, in Hawaii, on the island of Kauai, remains of corals are found at an altitude of over a kilometer) ... The corals themselves, inhabitants of shallow waters, could not "build up" their buildings to such a height - obviously, here we are dealing with land raising. But Darwin's theory presupposes the opposite process: the slow and steady sinking of the islands, the tombstones of which are coral atolls. The second important argument of Murray, questioning Darwin's theory, was the presence of places where there were simultaneously bordering reefs, and barrier reefs, and atolls: Darwin assumed a gradual evolution, going on over long decades, during the sinking of the island to the bottom.

Murray put forward his hypothesis: the land does not sink into the ocean, as the creator of the theory of evolution suggested, but, on the contrary, rises. When the summit of the uplifted seamount reaches shallow depths where corals can settle, these little builders settle here and begin to create a reef that gradually expands in breadth. But the growth rate of corals on the outer and inner reefs is not the same. The corals in the inner part of the reef die off, and the limestone that is part of this reef is dissolved and washed away. As a result, a "hole" is formed inside the reef, the depression is a lagoon. And on the edges of the reef there is intense activity of corals, they continue to build up the reef - and thus more and more intensify the isolation of the lagoon. Ultimately, a barrier reef with a lagoon, or coral atoll, forms.

Darwin, opposing Murray, pointed out that geological data on the structure of the bottom of the lagoons indicate that they do not "deepen" over time, but, on the contrary, are filled with sediments. Moreover, the waters of the lagoons, supersaturated with calcium carbonate, can in no way be a solvent for limestone. (Murray believed that first a limestone bank formed, and then, when the limestone dissolved, a lagoon.)

In 1915, a professor at Harvard University R. Daly put forward an original hypothesis called the "glacial control hypothesis." For, according to her, all existing atolls in the ocean are very young structures erected by corals in the Quaternary period. During the glaciation period, the level of the World Ocean dropped by about 60-80 meters. Coral atoll lagoons are about the same depth. A drop in ocean level has led to the death of numerous coral colonies; Clouding and cooling of water during the Ice Age also led to the death of corals. Meanwhile, the ocean continued its activity - waves, ebb and flow formed along the coasts of continents and islands ledges and platforms (only at a lower, "glacial" sea level). But now the period of the last glaciation ended, the ice began to melt, and the level of the World Ocean was steadily rising, flooding the recently formed ledges and platforms. Once again, favorable conditions were created for the corals, and they were quick to take advantage of this. The platforms that flooded the ocean served as the basis for their structures. Where these platforms were narrow, fringing reefs appeared, where wide - barrier reefs. Atolls, on the other hand, were formed on the tops of mountains cut off during the Ice Age by abrasion - the "smoothing" activity of waves.

Daly seemingly explained not only the origin of various types of coral structures and the flat bottom of the atoll lagoons, but also the fact that all lagoons, both in the center of the atoll and behind the reefs, are approximately the same depth - and it is equal to the magnitude of the rise in level ocean in the postglacial time (60-80 meters). However, careful measurements of the lagoons have shown that this is not the case: in fact, their depth varies over a very wide range and varies from 60 to 180 meters.

Thus, the question of whose hypothesis was right remained open until the very last years, when deep drilling of atolls began and people were finally able to find out their true history.

The Maldives is a unique creation of nature and an amazing tourist destination. Located in the Indian Ocean near India, the state is a Muslim republic. At the same time, respect for tourists is so strong that due attention is paid to the main Christian holidays. The Republic of Maldives consists of several atolls, which, in turn, include numerous islands. Only 10 out of 20 groups of atolls are open to tourists. At the same time, almost every hotel in the Maldives occupies a separate island, which gives tourists a sense of peace and serenity. However, there is something to do for outdoor enthusiasts - the islands have a lot of opportunities for this, including diving, for which this island state is visited by divers from all over the world. For all the exoticism, holidays in the Maldives are distinguished by the highest level of service.

The article on Turister.ru will discuss the structure of the Maldives - atolls and islands with their description and detailed information. Also you can explore detailed atoll maps :,, and.

Kaafu Atoll (North Male)

Kaafu Atoll (South Male)

The atoll is divided from the North Male by the Wadu Strait and stretches 19 km from west to east and 36 km from north to south. Only three islands of the pearl chain are occupied by local aborigines, 19 remaining paradises have been turned into resorts and delight travelers from all over the world with gentle lagoons and marvelous beaches.

South Male is possible.

Vaavu atoll

Alternative title:Felidhu

Located 65 km from the capital of the Maldives - Male (90 minutes by speed boat or 5 hours by boat). The atoll is an interesting geographic phenomenon, as it consists of two atolls: the main Vavu atoll and the round one, 9 kilometers in diameter, located next to the main atoll. Five inhabited islands with a population of about 2,300 make Vaavu Atoll the smallest administratively in the Maldives. In addition to these five, there are about 14 other islands, but most of them are almost not explored by tourists in comparison with the islands of other atolls. Vaavu Atoll is considered one of the best diving spots in the Maldives.

The Fotteyo Candu dive site is considered the best in the country and ranks among the top five in the world. Vaavu Atoll was opened to tourists in 1975, and has become a favorite with many cruise and safari organizers in the Maldives. The reefs on the east side of the atoll are pristine and perfect for not only diving, but also snorkeling. There are many sharks here, there is a chance to see hammerhead fish and other equally interesting fish.

View a detailed map of the atoll and read about the tourist islands Vaav you can.

Meemu Atoll

Alternative title:Mulaku

The atoll stretches 50 kilometers from north to south and 30 kilometers wide, containing eight fishing islets and two resorts. There are excellent places for recreation and diving, as evidenced by numerous cruises.

View a detailed map of the atoll and read about the tourist islands Meemu can.

Seenu Atoll

Alternative title: Addu

The southernmost atoll, located right at the equator, stretching 15 km from north to south and 18 km from west to east. It has 5 islands: northern Midu and western Hitadu, Gan, Feidu and Maradu, united by bridges. An airport and a resort hotel have been opened on the island of Gan, and Big Hitadu is the second most populous after Male with 12,000 inhabitants. Green and pretty Feydhoo and Marada rustle with coconut plantations, nature has endowed them with small coves, where fishing villages are settled. A pleasant surprise awaits the guests of the hotel in Ghana - at any time they can visit the nearby islands and get acquainted with the life of the local aborigines.

View a detailed map of the atoll and read about the tourist islands Seen can be.

Faafu Atoll

Alternative title: Nilandhe Atholhu Uthuruburi

A small atoll, it has an oval shape and the second name is North Niland. It stretches 21 km from west to east and 45 km from north to south, containing five fishing islands and only one resort, relatively recently opened for travelers.

View a detailed map of the atoll and read about the tourist islands Faaf can.

Dhaalu Atoll

Alternative title: Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi

Dhaalu Atoll is located 150 km north of Male and 5 km from Faafu Atoll. It is also known as Nilandhe Atholhu Dhekunuburi (South Nilade Atoll). Kandu is separated from North Nilade (Faafu Atoll) by the Deburieiteri Strait. The airport and other atolls can be reached by seaplane or speedboat.

Dhaalu Atoll, 38 km long and 23 km wide, has about 46 islands, many of which are uninhabited. The seaplane transfer takes 40 minutes. Dhaalu Atoll was recently opened for tourism. The islands, open to tourists, are located in the northern part of the atoll and provide excellent diving opportunities. The main island is Kudahuadu Island. It is a fairly large island with a developed infrastructure and a population of 1500 people.

The main reefs, interesting and accessible for diving, are located along the northern and northeastern parts of the islands. There are practically no shallow reefs inside the atoll.

The lagoon, relatively clean from coral thickets, allows you to safely go on an excursion around the islands by boat. Daalu Atoll still preserves the ruins of ancient monasteries and mosques. On the islands where the indigenous people live, souvenirs are much cheaper than in the capital.

View a detailed map of the atoll and read about the tourist islands Dhaal is allowed.

Alif Atoll

Alternative title: Ari, also the northern and southern parts are called Alif Alif and Alif Dhaal

The atoll stretches 33 km from west to east and 96 km from north to south. The atoll is divided into two honor: Alif Alif (northern) and Alif Daal (southern). In the northern part, in addition to the main atoll, there is a small Radsu atoll, and in the southern part, the capital of Mahibadu. The atoll includes 70 islands, but only 18 of them are inhabited, and 25 have been turned into resorts. Once upon a time, the local natives traded sharks and turtles, but since sea hunting was banned, they have been busy serving tourist hotels.

Baa Atoll

Alternative title: Malosmadulu (Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi)

It is an administrative unit of the Republic of Maldives, coupled with Horseborough Atoll, which has the capital of Eidafushi. The atoll stretches 32 km from west to east and 42 km from north to south and includes 10 inhabited islands. Local natives are fishing, at the same time mastering more lucrative tourism professions. The underwater world is amazingly diverse and surprises with interesting diving sites. Wonderful corals still untouched by divers, as well as dozens of fish species await ocean treasure hunters!

Lhaviyani Atoll

Alternative title: Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi

The atoll is 120 km away from the Maldivian capital, and therefore travelers come to rest by seaplane. The atoll stretches 35 km from north to south and 37 km from west to east. Food and goods are brought here by dhoni, for 8 hours sailing such a long distance. Fadiffolu accommodates 6 fishing and 4 resort islands.

View a detailed map of the atoll and read about the tourist islands Lhaviyani is possible.