Maafaru (Noonu Atoll)

Maafaru (Dhivehi: މާފަރު) is one of the inhabited islands of Noonu Atoll in the Maldives.

Maafaru
Inhabited island
Maafaru
Location in Maldives
Coordinates: 05°49′55″N 73°28′49″E
CountryMaldives
Geographic atollMiladhummadulhu Atoll
Administrative atollSouthern Miladhunmadulu
Distance to Malé183.23 km (113.85 mi)
Dimensions
 • Length4.630 km (2.877 mi)
 • Width0.630 km (0.391 mi)
Population
 (2014)[1]
 • Total715 (including foreigners)
Time zoneUTC+05:00 (MST)
For other islands, see Maafaru.

Geography

The island is 183.23 km (114 mi; 99 nmi) north of the country's capital, Malé.[2]

Demography
Historical population
YearPop.±%
2006 710—    
2014 697−1.8%
2006-2014: Census populations
Source: [3]

Transport

Maafaru International Airport was built in 2018, having a 2,200 m (7,200 ft) runway,[4] and built with aid from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.[5]

9/11 themed Eid celebration

The Az'ha Eid ‘celebrations’ that took place on Maafaru in 2018 were criticised after photos of it appeared on Facebook. The images show men acting as terrorists armed with pretend rifles and a tower with a US flag on top of it. The finale features a plastic plane hanging from a wire and crashing into the tower, with smoke and fire billowing out. Young children can be seen looking on. The Facebook post with the images was later removed. The same spectacle has been held on the island for at least two consecutive years and was held before that too, according to the organizer.[6][7][8][9]

References
  1. "Table PP5: Resident Population by sex, nationality and locality (administrative islands), 2014" (PDF). Population and Households Census 2014. National Bureau of Statistics. p. 33. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  2. "Coordinate Distance Calculator". Boulter.com. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  3. "Table 3.3: Total Maldivian Population by Islands" (PDF). National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  4. "Test flights to land at Maafaru Airport in July". Maldives Times. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  5. "Maafaru Airport will Open with Modern Facilities – Minister Zameer". Maldives News. 3 January 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  6. "އީދު ކުޅިވަރުގައި ޓެރެރިޒަމަށް ހިތްވަރުދޭ ކަމެއް ކުރުމުގެ ކުރިން ވިސްނަން ޖެހޭ: މިނިސްޓަރު". Sun Online.
  7. "Maldives island council responds to 9/11 Eid 'celebration'". Maldives Independent.
  8. "Anger over 9/11 depiction in Maldives island Eid celebration". Maldives Independent.
  9. "Terror warning from Maldives minister after 9/11 Eid 'celebration'". Maldives Independent.


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