 Meedhoo (Dhivehi: މީދޫ) is the oldest populated island in Addu Atoll, having been settled between 1000 and 500 BCE. Its name comes from the original Indo-Aryan settlers; Meedhoo means "Big Island" in Sanskrit.
Meedhoo is generally considered to be the northern half of meedhoo, and has an area of 1.99 km2 and a population of 1,871 (2014).


The original settlers were Dhivehi people of Aryan origin. An Arab traveller named Yoosuf Naib introduced Islam to the island many years before the rest of the Maldives converted to Islam, and built the country's first mosque. The island has since been known as a centre of learning and Islamic religious education.
The 900 year old Kōgaṇṇu Cemetery in Meedhoo is the oldest cemetery in the Maldives. The largest tombstone in the country is also found in this cemetery. It is believed that this tombstone dates back to the 18th century and belongs to a royal of the Maldives

Beaches
Some notable beaches of the island include, Eedhigamool beach, Kogannu beach, Kalhibih, Bomaa Fannu, Veyraando and Héra Burikédéthan (Ismehelaa Hera). To the south of the island is Canareef Island Resort, formerly Herathera, which was a part of southern Hulhumeedhoo that was dredged and separated to build a resort. To the north is a similar island, Ismehelaa Hera, also separated from meedhoo to build a resort. This resort, named South Palm Maldives.
