Gaafaru
Gaafaru
ގާފަރު | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Gaafaru Atoll (Landsat image) | |
  Gaafaru Location in Maldives | |
| Coordinates: 04°44′10″N 73°29′55″E / 4.73611°N 73.49861°E | |
| Country | Maldives |
| Administrative atoll | Kaafu Atoll |
| Distance to Malé | 62.03 km (38.54 mi) |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 0.525 km (0.326 mi) |
| • Width | 0.450 km (0.280 mi) |
| Population (2022)[1] | |
• Total | 1,294 (including foreigners) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 (MST) |
Gaafaru (Dhivehi: ގާފަރު) is one of the inhabited islands of Kaafu Atoll, the only island of the natural atoll known as Gaafaru.
Geography
[edit]The island is 62.03 km (39 mi; 33 nmi) north of the country's capital, Malé.[2]
Gahaafaru Atoll
[edit]Gahaafaru or Gaafaru (Northern Reef) is a large elliptical reef with only a small inhabited island at its eastern end. This reef has proved disastrous to many vessels[3]. Gaafaru reef is as much a separate atoll as Goifulhafehendhu Atoll or Rasdhukuramathi Atoll which are similar in structure and size. It is separated from Kagi (the northernmost island of North Malé Atoll) by a narrow but deep channel - the Gaafaru Kandu[4]. Rising sea levels as a result of climate change put the island at "severe risk of flooding in the next century, with half of its land in danger."[5]
Demography
[edit]| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 800 | — |
| 2014 | 1,013 | +26.6% |
| 2022 | 1,294 | +27.7% |
| 2006-2022: Census populations Source: [6][1] | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Table P5: Resident Population by island and sex, 2022" (PDF). Maldives Census. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ "Coordinate Distance Calculator". Boulter.com. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ "Gaafaru". Maldives Virtual Tour. Retrieved 2026-04-22.
- ^ "Gaaerifaru Kandu dive site | PADI". PADI Travel. Retrieved 2026-04-22.
- ^ Viva, Arquitectura. "Masterplan for Gaafaru island in the Maldives - Foster + Partners". Arquitectura Viva. Retrieved 2026-04-22.
- ^ "Table 3.3: Total Maldivian Population by Islands" (PDF). National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
| Haa Alif | ||
|---|---|---|
| Haa Dhaalu | ||
| Shaviyani | ||
| Noonu | ||
| Raa | ||
| Baa | ||
| Lhaviyani | ||
| Kaafu | ||
| Alif Alif | ||
| Alif Dhaalu | ||
| Vaavu | ||
| Meemu | ||
| Faafu | ||
| Dhaalu | ||
| Thaa | ||
| Laamu | ||
| Gaafu Alifu | ||
| Gaafu Dhaalu | ||
| Gnaviyani | ||
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