North Malé Atoll
The North Male Atoll is home to the Maldivian capital and airport, and is the fifth largest atoll in the Maldives with an area of 1.568 km².
Almost all of the atoll's islands are inhabited and used commercially or for tourism. To the south, separated by the Vaadhoo Channel, is the South Male Atoll. A few kilometers north lies the one-island atoll of Kaashidhoo, famous for its coconut palms and local coconut syrup.
Felidhu Atoll
Felidhu Atoll (also called Vaavu Atoll), which is shaped like a small boot, is located in the center of the eastern Maldives island chain, in the Laccadive Sea.
Of the 26 islands, only five are inhabited: the main island of Felidhu and the islands of Fulidhoo, Keyodhoo, Rakeedhoo and Thinadhoo.
Ari Atoll
Ari Atoll (also called Alif or Alifu Atoll) is the second largest atoll in the western Maldives.
Of the 105 islands of the natural atoll, only 18 are inhabited by locals; of which Mahibadhoo, the main island, with a population of about 1.800 people. 35 islands, including Nika, Ellaidhoo and Angaga, many of which were developed for tourism in the 1980s, are very popular and sought-after beautiful resorts, especially by regular guests. The flight time from Male is approximately 30 minutes by seaplane.
Addu Atoll
The Addu Atoll is the southernmost in the Maldives archipelago and lies in the Laccadive Sea, a marginal sea of the Indian Ocean and just a little south of the equator.
The largest islands in the atoll are Hithadhoo, Meedhoo and Gan. The flight with the domestic Maldivian airline Maldivian from Male to Gan Island takes just 70 minutes.
Gan is connected to three other islands by a 12 km long paved road. Gan was an important base for the British Air Force during World War II; Gan Airport was created at this time.
In January 2011, the inhabited islands of the west coast as well as Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo in the northeast of the atoll were combined to form the city of Addu City. Addu City and the capital Malé are the only cities in the island state that also extend over more than one island.
