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East Timor: East Timor Geography Profile 2012

2012/03/07

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East Timor Geography Profile 2012

Located in southeast Asia, the island of Timor is part of the Maritime Southeast Asia, and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. To the north of the mountainous island are the Ombai Strait, Wetar Strait and the greater Banda Sea, 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 mountain of East Timor is Tatamailau (also known as Mount Ramelau) at 2,963 meters (9,721 ft).

East Timor lies between latitudes 8° and 10°S, and longitudes 124° and 128°E.

The local climate is tropical and generally hot and humid, characterised by distinct rainy and dry seasons. The capital, largest city and main port is Dili, and the second-largest city is the eastern town of Baucau.

The easternmost area of Timor-Leste consists of the Paitchau Range and Iralalaro area. This area is the first conservation area in Timor-Leste, the Nino Konis Santana National Park. It contains the last remaining tropical dry forested area within the country. It hosts a number of unique plant and animal species and is sparsely populated.[26] The northern coast is characterised by a number of coral reef systems that have been determined to be at risk.

Location: 

Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - Timor-Leste 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

Geographic coordinates: 

8 50 S, 125 55 E

Map references: 

Southeast Asia

Area comparative: 

slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries Total: 

228 km

Land boundaries Note: 

Climate: 

tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Terrain: 

mountainous

Natural resources: 

gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Natural hazards: 

floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones

Environment - current issues: 

widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion

Geography note: 

Timor comes from the Malay word for "East"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands