The abundance of marine life, coral reefs and beautiful beaches has made the Maldives archipelagos, a one of a kind destination in the Indian Ocean. Its resorts are celebrated around the world for their pristine beaches, like the luxurious Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, for example, a Maldives Island Hotel known for its natural beauty. The atolls are also home to around 393,253 people, and with several of the islands dedicated to leisure, the Maldivian government has initiated land reclamation projects to support its growing population.
Hulhumale Island, located on the south side of the Malé atolls, is an artificial landmass which was created to meet the needs of the region’s industrial and commercial development, as well as housing demands. 1.8 sq km of reef was filled in with sand and dead coral, dug up from the lagoon, and then heaped on top to create the island. Stretching over 2km long and 1km wide, the island was built 2m above sea level to offer some protection against rising sea levels. Hulhumale is connected by a causeway to Hulhulé Island, where the international airport is located.
The reclamation project was split into two phases; currently about three quarters of the island’s land is a functioning town, with residential apartments, a school, commercial shops and a large mosque. The mosque features a golden glass dome, which according to locals, can be seen all over the southern part of North Malé. In addition, there’s also an artificial beachfront on the eastern side of Hulhumale.
Upon completion of the first phase in 2020, the island will be able to accommodate around 50,000 people, and have industrial areas, offices, shopping malls, a marina and a national stadium. The basic layout was carefully planned to make room the for natural growth of palm trees and other plant life. To visit Hulhumale from Malé, you can either take a ferry from the Hulhumale ferry terminal, or hire a speedboat.
Catalina Forbes is a travel writer who bases her content on many thrilling escapades experienced across the world. Google+ |