Rasgetheemu
Inhabited island in Maldives
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rasgetheemu (Dhivehi: ރަސްގެތީމު) is an inhabited island located in Maalhosmadhulu Uthuruburi, known administratively as Raa Atoll.
Rasgetheemu
ރަސްގެތީމު | |
|---|---|
  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 (2022)[1] | |
• Total | 537 |
| 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'.[citation needed]
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".[citation needed]