Country Maldives Administrative atoll Addu City Area 205 ha | Geographic atoll Addu Atoll Time zone MST (UTC+05:00) Population 2,806 (2013) | |
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Similar Hithadhoo, Hulhumeedhoo, Gan, Maradhoo, Villingili | ||
Midu (Meedhoo) (Dhivehi: މީދޫ) is the oldest populated island in Addu Atoll (also known as Seenu Atoll) in the Republic of Maldives, having been settled between 1000 and 500 BCE. Its name comes from the original Indo-Aryan settlers; Meedhoo means "Big Island" in Sanskrit. Meedhoo is located in the northernmost tip of Addu Atoll.
Contents
Map of Meedhoo, Seenu Atoll, Maldives
History
The original settlers were Divehi people of Aryan origin. An Arab traveller by the name of Yoosuf Naib planted the seed of Islam and built a place to worship Allah in the 12th century; this became the country's first mosque. The island has since been known as a centre of learning and Islamic religious education, famous for the scholars it has produced. Since the 16th century, eight natives of Meedhoo have served as fandiyaaru, or qazi, at Malé. To this day, Meedhoo's Ulamma and other ecclesiastics hold their own with those of the capital.
Meedhoo is one of the largest islands in the Maldives. Despite its distance from the capital Malé and its comparatively small population, Meedhoo has maintained a disproportionate importance in Maldivian affairs.
The oldest cemetery in the Maldives, Kōgaṇṇu, is located in Meedhoo.
Districts of Meedhoo
Fen'aa Avashu and Dheshenaa Avashu are the main two districts of Meedhoo. Dheshenaa Avashu lies to the north, while Fen'aa Avashu lies to the south.