Fuvahmulah when it was formed, and how it evolved

Fuvahmulah – the third populous island in Maldives is made up of 484 hectares of land and is nearing 4,000 years in age. The island lies about 12 miles to the east of Addu, and has 1¼ miles of submerged reef to the south east of the island.

In the past, the southern end of the island was open and the inside of the island was a saltwater lagoon forming a natural harbor. At that time, people used to live near the beach around the island.

As the saltwater lagoon grew more shallow and formed land, people began to shift to the inside of the island. All that remains of the saltwater lagoon are two lakes in two points of the island – Bandaara Kilhi and Dhadimagi Kilhi. The rest turned to wetlands and taro fields.

The natural harbor that used to exist in the island was last used in 1331 before it completely turned to land. Attempt made by locals to save the area used as a harbor failed as nature took its course. The atoll chief at that time was Vaaro Ali Didi who died in 1357 (AH). 101 years have passed since the island lost its natural harbor.

After that, locals used Neregandu, Maaneyru, Anbulu, Bandahalfannu, Rasgefannu, Bondofannu and Bilhifeeshi to go in and out of the island.

Many lives were lost and property damaged during that time while attempting to get in and out of the island. The government interfered and used explosives to make the channels through reefs bigger in all areas used to get in and out of the island except Bilhifeyshi. The first area that explosives were used was Maaneyru. That took place on 8 March 1981.

Though explosives were also used in Aruhfannu and Kandhuvalufannu, those were not usual entry and exit points used in the island.

Realizing that this was not an effective solution to the problem, the government started work on building a harbor in Fuvahmulah in July 2000. The work was complete and the harbor opened for use in December 2002. The project cost €9,577,099. The harbor was officially opened by Maldivian president at the time, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, on 10 July 2003.

Sources:

Maldivian Geography

Writings of Ibrahim Saeed Moosa

SAARC Coastal Management Report 18-20 February 2010.