Milandhoo

Milandhoo is the largest island in Shaviyani Atoll at 126 hectares and the most populous, with over 2,000 residents. The island was uninhabited until 1997 when the government launched a project to construct houses and relocate residents from neighboring Maakandoodhoo, where water had become contaminated. The resettlement was hastened after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami severely damaged Maakandoodhoo, and Milandhoo was officially recognized as an inhabited island on March 20, 2005. Milandhoo is unique for its two freshwater lakes: Sikundi Kulhi ('Prawn Lake'), home to transparent prawns, barracudas, and crabs, with clay deposits used for traditional medicine; and Rayy Kulhi ('Red Pond'), a popular picnic destination. The island is also the atoll's main agricultural center, with commercial plantain cultivation since 2006. Located 235 km north of Malé, Milandhoo offers a fascinating example of planned resettlement and agricultural development in the Maldives.