Geography

East Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco.

The island of Timor is part of the Malay archipelago and the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. To the north of the mountainous island are the Ombai Strait and Wetar Strait, to the south the Timor Sea separates the island from Australia, while to the west lies the Indonesian Province of East Nusa Tenggara. The highest point of East Timor is Mount Ramelau (also known as Mount Tatamailau) at 2,963 metres (9,721 ft).

The capital, largest city and main port is Dili, and the second-largest city is the eastern town of Baucau. Dili has the only functioning international airport, though there are airstrips in Baucau and Oecusse used for domestic flights. Dili's airport runway is unable to accommodate large aircraft.

Facts and Figures

• Location: Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago.
• Geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 125 55 E
• Area: 15,007 sq km
• Land Boundaries: 228 km
• Border countries: Indonesia 228 km
• Coastline: 706 km
• Maritime Claims:
  • Territorial sea: 12 nm
  • Contiguous zone: 24 nm
  • Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
• Climate: tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
• Terrain: mountainous
• Elevation Extremes:
  • Lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
  • Highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
• Natural Resources:
  • Gold
  • Petroleum
  • Natural Gas
  • Manganese
  • Marble
• Land Use:
  • Arable land: 8.2%
  • Permanent crops: 4.57%
  • Other: 87.23%
• Irrigated Land: 1,065 sq km (est.)
• Natural Hazards:
  • Floods and landslides
  • Earthquakes
  • Tsunamis
  • Tropical cyclones
• Environmental Issues: widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion