Addu Atoll, the southernmost atoll of the Maldives, stands out for its unique geography and historical significance. Unlike most other atolls, it has a natural, continuous ring-like formation and is the only atoll in the Maldives with true islands encircling a lagoon. The atoll played a key role during World War II and the Cold War, housing a British Royal Air Force base on Gan Island, remnants of which still exist today. The causeway system, which connects several inhabited islands—Feydhoo, Maradhoo, Hithadhoo, and Gan—is the longest road in the country. Addu also has the second-largest population among Maldivian atolls. Its southern position places it just south of the equator, influencing its ecology; the region supports species and vegetation not commonly seen in the central or northern atolls. The atoll’s environment includes rich mangroves, wetlands, and some of the deepest lagoons in the Maldives, along with coral reefs and channels.