Maliku Kandu
Encyclopedia
Maliku Kandu and Māmalē Kandu Divehi are the traditional names of the broad Minicoy Channel between Minicoy
(Maliku in Dhivehi) and Ihavandippolhu (Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll
) in the north of the Maldives
. The latter name is given after the Malabar merchant Maamaley Marakkaaru who controlled most of the sea trade along this route before the arrival of the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean. The maritime boundary
between the Maldives and India
runs through the channel.
In the British Admiralty charts it is called Eight Degree Channel. It is so named as it lies on the 8-degree line of Latitude
, north of the equator
. Another local name for this channel is Addigiri Kandu.
This channel appeared in old French maps with the name Courant de Malicut.
(Maliku). Fishermen from Thuraakunu and from Minicoy often crossed the Maliku Kandu on their boats to visit each other's islands. Marriage alliances were common.
Nowadays Minicoy is a part of India
and communication between Minicoy and Maldives by sea is highly restricted.
Maliku Atoll
Maliku Atoll or Minicoy Atoll is the southernmost atoll of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India. It is located 201 km to the SSW of Kalpeni, at the southern end of the Nine Degree Channel and 125 km to the north of Thuraakunu, Maldives, at the northern end of the Eight Degree Channel. The...
(Maliku in Dhivehi) and Ihavandippolhu (Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll
Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll
Northern Thiladhunmathi Atoll is the northern section of Thiladhunmathi Atoll, a natural atoll of the Maldives.As the administrative division known as Haa Alif Atoll it includes Ihavandhippolhu, the northernmost natural atoll of the Maldive archipelago, as well as a section of the larger...
) in the north of the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
. The latter name is given after the Malabar merchant Maamaley Marakkaaru who controlled most of the sea trade along this route before the arrival of the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean. The maritime boundary
Maritime boundary
Maritime boundary is a conceptual means of division of the water surface of the planet into maritime areas that are defined through surrounding physical geography or by human geography. As such it usually includes areas of exclusive national rights over the mineral and biological resources,...
between the Maldives and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
runs through the channel.
In the British Admiralty charts it is called Eight Degree Channel. It is so named as it lies on the 8-degree line of Latitude
8th parallel north
The 8th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 8 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, the Indian Ocean, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Central America, South America and the Atlantic Ocean....
, north of the equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
. Another local name for this channel is Addigiri Kandu.
This channel appeared in old French maps with the name Courant de Malicut.
History
Traditionally the northernmost atoll of the Maldives was MinicoyMinicoy
Minicoy, locally known as Maliku is a census town in the Indian union territory of Lakshadweep and was formerly a part of Maldive Islands.-Etymology:...
(Maliku). Fishermen from Thuraakunu and from Minicoy often crossed the Maliku Kandu on their boats to visit each other's islands. Marriage alliances were common.
Nowadays Minicoy is a part of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and communication between Minicoy and Maldives by sea is highly restricted.