The northernmost atoll. A thila divers call an aquarium, and a mangrove that fed an island through the Second World War.
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Haa Alifu is the top of the country, and its register was written almost entirely in a nine-month stretch across 2018 and 2019 — protection reached the far north late.
Bilehdhoo Thila, on the northern side of Ihavandhippolhu, is the reason divers come. The ministry calls it one of the most popular thilas in the northern Maldives and describes it as an aquarium, the place where the greatest number of underwater species is observed in one area, with a manta cleaning station on it. Rays, napoleon wrasse, sharks and turtles are all listed.
The land is where this atoll gets unusual. Kelaa holds a 22-hectare wetland with more small-leaved orange mangrove than anywhere comparable, and the register records that during the boduthadhu — the famine of the Second World War — those mangroves were a reliable source of food for the island. Baarah is shaped like the Arabic letter bā and carries thirty-nine hectares of mangrove that were probably once a single connected system.
Haa Alifu Atoll has one airport. The nearest to Velana is Hoarafushi Airport on Hoarafushi, 317 km north of it. The runway takes turboprops rather than jets, so every arrival connects through Malé or comes by seaplane.
Hoarafushi Airport is in the atoll and takes turboprops. Hanimaadhoo International, one atoll south, is the larger northern gateway and is the route several resorts here quote, followed by a speedboat. Seaplanes fly between sunrise and sunset only, and the operator asks guests who want to reach the resort the same day to be in the Maldives by 15:30.
4 protected areas are declared in Haa Alifu Atoll, covering 4,752 hectares. They were declared between 2018 and 2019, 3 of them together on 16 June 2019.
Bileiydhoo Thila is a 227-hectare thila on the northern side of the Ihavandhippolhu Atoll and is known for being one of the most popular thilas in the Northern Maldives among divers. This thila is home to a variety of species, and is a famous dive site in the Maldives. It is known for being an 'aquarium' where the most number of underwater species in one area is observed. Important species such as rays, Napolean wrasses, sharks, and different types of turtles frequent this thila. A manta cleaning station also exists in this thila. 20 meters below the sea level, a vibrant ecosystem of species can be found, and huge caves are found further below. These caves are occupied by a great number of nurse sharks (nidhanmiyaru). Moreover, rays and dogtooth tuna (voshimas) are also found in the 'Top Reef' of this thila.
Based on the southern side of the Ihavandhippolhu Atoll, Gallandhoo is a 12-hectare rock-based island that has unique natural and environmental characteristics. It is home to a wide variety of species. The natural diversity of this island is most visible through the greenery of the trees, complemented by the island's rich soil fertility. A great number of Lettuce Trees (Lhos Gas) are found on this island. The mangroves and wetlands on the island also show the island's rich biodoversity and its environmental significance. In addition to this, different types of birds nest on the island during the Northeast Monsoon (Iruvai Moosun). The island's reef biodiversity is vibrant, and the island is known for being a nesting ground for turtles.
HA. Kelaa, a 212-hectare island located in the Northern most side of the HA. Atoll, is among one of the islands in the Northern Maldives where wetlands are observed. The wetland in Kelaa has 22 hectares. Compared to the other islands in Maldives, the wetland in Kelaa, which is environmentally noteworthy and historically significant to the island, has the most number of number of Small-Leaved Orange Mangrove (Kan'doo). During the "boduthadhu" (famine) caused by Second World War, the Small-Leaved Orange Mangroves were a reliable source of food for Kelaa and its nearby islands. This is in contrast to some other islands which struggled with food security during the war. Small-Leaved Orange Mangroves are still sometimes used as food. A huge Kulhlhava tree, which is more than 50 years old, is also found in the wetland in Kelaa. The wetland is home to different species of birds, and migratory birds are observed in great numbers in this area. In addition to a huge population of Common Moorhen (Kulheekukulhu), protected birds in the Maldives such as Grey Heron (Maakanaa), Cattle Egret (Iruvaahudhu), Maldivina Water Hen (Kanbili), Black Crowned Night Heron (raabondhi), and Asian Koel (Koveli) are among the types of birds which this wetland is home to.
Formed in the shape of the arabic letter 'ب,' Ha. Baarah, even in its formation, is different to other islands, and has unique environmental characteristics. Covering a large area on the eastern side of the island are 10 different areas of mangroves and wetlands, however, there is indication that these areas were once connected. The total area of the island is 256.7 hectares, of which 39 hectares consist of mangroves. It is said that the mangrove area on this island is one of the places that Boduthakurufaanu travelled to on the Kalhu'ohfummi to flee the Portuguese in the 1570s. Six types of mangroves are observed on this island, and a significant number of Small-Leaved Orange Mangrove (Kan'doo) and Red Mangrove (Ran'doo) are found. This area is home to a number of birds, and Common Greenshank (Chonchon Ilolhi), a very rarely sighted bird, has also been observed in this area. In addition to this, the area of the island where the mangrove meets the sea is a nursery for young turtles, rays, different types of fish and sharks.