Rasgetheemu (Raa Atoll)
Rasgetheemu (Dhivehi: ރަސްގެތީމު) the first capital island in the Republic of Maldives located in the north province in the north edge of Maalhosmadhulu Uthuruburi Raa Atoll.
Rasgetheemu | |
|---|---|
  Rasgetheemu Location in Maldives | |
| Coordinates: 5°48′29″N 73°0′12″E | |
| Country | Maldives |
| Administrative atoll | Raa Atoll |
| Distance to Malé | 189.06 km (117.48 mi) |
| Government | |
| • Council | Rasgetheemu Council |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 0.875 km (0.544 mi) |
| • Width | 0.425 km (0.264 mi) |
| Population (2014)[1] | |
| • Total | 509 (including foreigners) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 (MST) |
History
Maldivian legend says that a Sinhalese prince got stranded with his bride - the daughter of the Sri Lankan King in Rasgetheemu, the original 'King's Island'.
Etymology
The name comes from Ras + ge + theemu. The word Ras means rule or monarchy, ge literally means house, and theemu meaning island. The word Theemu came from Tamil word Theevu also meaning island. It probably came from the tamil speakers of chola empire which used to rule northern atolls of Maldives. Theemu appears in the names of other islands, including Agolhitheemu, Utheemu.) Historians believe that Rasgetheem means "the King’s Town" or "King’s Island".
Demography
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 2006 | 504 | — |
| 2014 | 487 | −3.4% |
| 2006-2014: Census populations Source: [3] | ||
References
- "Table PP5: Resident Population by sex, nationality and locality (administrative islands), 2014" (PDF). Population and Households Census 2014. National Bureau of Statistics. p. 34. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- "Coordinate Distance Calculator". Boulter.com. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- "Table 3.3: Total Maldivian Population by Islands" (PDF). National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 11 August 2018.