Thuraakunu (Haa Alif Atoll)

Thuraakunu (Haa Alif Atoll)

uraakunu (Dhivehi: ތުރާކުނު) is the northern-most island in Maldives, one of the fourteen inhabited islands of Haa Alif Atoll and geographically part of the Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the Maldives.

Thuraakunu is the closest island to Minicoy. Formerly there was direct trade between both, and fishermen from both islands used to visit each other. This exchange continued even after Minicoy became part of the Indian Union after independence. However, after 1956 the Indian government forbade these visits. Now, despite the geographical proximity and ethnographic similarities, people from both islands are not allowed to meet each other. Mr. Ali Rasheedh is the present island chief.