Inhabited island in Maldives
Maakurathu (Dhivehi: މާކުރަތު) is one of the inhabited islands of Raa Atoll in the Maldives. Sultan Mohamed I is from Maakurathu. He is also the husband of Sultana Raadhafathi.
Geography
The island is 166.39 km (103 mi; 90 nmi) north of the country's capital, Malé.[2]
Maakurathu's location coordinates are 73°02′52″E, 05°36′41″N. It is approximately 3,035 ft (925 m) in length and 2,706 ft (825 m) in width, and the area of the island is approximately 4,671,537 sq ft (43.4 ha).
Demography
The population of the island is 1330, according to the census of August 2017, of whom 630 are women and 700 are men. Maakurathu's population growth rate is 18 children per annum and it has the eighth highest population in the atoll.
Historical population| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|
| 2006 | 877 | — |
|---|
| 2014 | 769 | −12.3% |
|---|
| 2022 | 1,376 | +78.9% |
|---|
2006-2022: Census populations
Source: [3] |
Economy
The main source of the community's income comes from the lobster and Sea cucumber trade, fishing, agriculture, masonry, thatch weaving and rope making.
Clubs and NGOs
The clubs and NGOs operating in Maakurathu are:
- Maakurathu Sports Club (registered date: 1 March 2000)
- Maakurathu Akuveringe Dhirun (registered date: 17 January 2005)
- People's Association of Maakurathu - PEAMA (registered date: 2009)
- Maakurathu cooperative society - 16 November 2017
Education
There is one government school, Maakurathu School, which provides education from grade 1 to 10. There is one pre-school, which is owned and run by the public and backed by Maakurathu Sports Club, which provides education for lower and upper kindergarten.
- 1 Maakurathu School ( grade 1 - 10 )
- 1 Maakurathu Pre-school ( Nursery, LKG )
- 1 Maakurathu Learning Center ( registered on 2022)
Religion
There are three mosques on the island, one for men and two for women: Majid-Al-Salaam, Masjid-Al-Anwaar and Masjid-Al-(******). The two mosques for women are relatively small compared to the one for men. Masjid-Al-Salaam was completely demolished in August 2007 to build a new mosque.
