Ari Atoll

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File:AriAtoll.jpg

Ari Atoll (also called Alif or Alifu Atoll) is one of the natural atolls of the Maldives.{{cite book |last=Karan |first=P.P. |last2=Subbiah |first2=S.P. |last3=Gilbreath |first3=D. |title=The Indian Ocean Tsunami: The Global Response to a Natural Disaster |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-8131-2652-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DEedXAZnyVAC&pg=PA129 |access-date=10 November 2024 |page=129}}{{cite book |author=United States. Hydrographic Office |title=Sailing Directions for the West Coast of India from Point Calimere to Cape Monze Including Ceylon, Pamban Pass, and Palk Gulf: Issued Under Authority of the Secretary of the Navy |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |series=H.O. pub 159 |year=1931 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=60QPAQAAMAAJ&pg=PP457 |access-date=10 November 2024 |page=457}} It is one of the biggest atolls and is located in the west of the archipelago. The almost rectangular alignment spreads the islands over an area of about {{convert|89|x|3|km|mi|abbr=off}}. It has been divided in two sections for administrative purposes, Northern Ari Atoll and Southern Ari Atoll consisting of 105 islands. Ari Atoll is part of the zone designated for tourist development in the Maldives. It is roughly a 30-minute seaplane flight away from the capital Malé.

There are more than 20 islands in the Atoll designated for tourist resorts. Each island resort is self-contained with accommodation and recreational facilities, such as tennis court. Scuba diving is the most popular tourist activity in the Maldives. The diving in Ari Atoll is extensive and is often defined by location within the atoll, either North or South.

The main tourist resorts are Ari Beach, Halaveli, Maayyafushi, Twin Islands Resort, and Dhoni Mighilli.