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Vaadhoo (Raa Atoll)

Coordinates: 05°51′19″N 72°59′27″E / 5.85528°N 72.99083°E / 5.85528; 72.99083
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Vaadhoo
Vaadhoo is located in Maldives
Vaadhoo
Vaadhoo
Location in Maldives
Coordinates: 05°51′19″N 72°59′27″E / 5.85528°N 72.99083°E / 5.85528; 72.99083
CountryMaldives
Administrative atollNorthern Maalhosmadulu Atoll
Distance to Malé194.46 km (120.83 mi)
Dimensions
 • Length1.450 km (0.901 mi)
 • Width0.400 km (0.249 mi)
Population
 (2014)[1]
 • Total
398 (including foreigners)
Time zoneUTC+05:00 (MST)

Vaadhoo (Dhivehi: ވާދޫ) is one of the inhabited islands of Raa Atoll, Maldives. Famous for the bioluminescent plankton (Redhan), an annual bioluminescent phenomenon known as "The Sea of Stars" is visible from this island.

Geography

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The island is 194.46 km (121 mi; 105 nmi) north of the country's capital, Malé.[2]

Ecology

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Vaadhoo island is famous for the 'sea of stars.' This marine bioluminescence is generated by phytoplankton known as dinoflagellates. Woodland Hastings of Harvard University has for the first time identified a special channel in the dinoflagellate cell membrane that responds to electrical signals—offering a potential mechanism for how the algae create their unique illumination.

Demography

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Total population of the island was more than 500 in 2007.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
2006 320—    
2014 375+17.2%
2006-2014: Census populations
Source: [3]

References

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  1. ^ "Table PP5: Resident Population by sex, nationality and locality (administrative islands), 2014" (PDF). Population and Households Census 2014. National Bureau of Statistics. p. 34. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Coordinate Distance Calculator". Boulter.com. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Table 3.3: Total Maldivian Population by Islands" (PDF). National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 11 August 2018.