Milandhoo

The most populous island in Shaviyani Atoll, Milandhoo was not inhabited until 1997. The Government launched a project to construct houses there and relocate residents from the neighboring island Maakandoodhoo, where the water had become contaminated. The North-West of the island has a Freshwater body called ‘Sikundi-Kulhi’, named after the abundant amount of freshwater shrimp (dingaa) found in it, while in southwestern Milandhoo is a pond, Rayy Kulhi (“Red Pond”), so named because debris from bottle gourd plants and mangroves in the surrounding swamp redden its water. It is smaller and shallower than Sikundi Kulhi, but a popular picnic destination.