Alifushi and Etthingili were named as the Powell Islands by Captain Robert Moresby after Lieutenant F.F.

...and the ink of the Maldive charts had scarcely dried, when the labours of those employed were demanded of the Indian Government by Her Majesty’s authorities at Ceylon, to undertake trigonometrical surveys of that Island, and the dangerous and shallow gulfs on either side of the neck of sand connecting it with India.

They were the present Captains F. F. Powell, and Richard Ethersey, in the Schooner 'Royal Tiger' and 'Shannon,' assisted by Lieut.

Felix Jones, who was the draftsman also on this survey: they speak for themselves.Alifushi and Etthingili (Powell Islands in the Admiralty Chart) stand on a detached reef of their own with very deep waters (no sounding), between this isolated reef shelf and the northern end of the main Northern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll.

Alifushi is 207.43 km (129 mi; 112 nmi) north of the country's capital, Malé.