Hulhumalé is an artificial island in the Maldives, gradually formed by land reclamation since 1997. Now 2 square miles (4 sq. km) with a population near 100,000, the island was built to ease congestion on nearby Malé, which lies opposite Velana International Airport. With a population of 252,768 in an area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 sq. km), Malé is one of the most densely populated cities in the world.