Geography of Timor-Leste

Geography of East Timor

Continent	Asia
Region	Southeast Asia
Coordinates	8°50′S 125°55′E
Area	Ranked 154th
• Total	14,919 km2 (5,760 sq mi)
• Land	100%
• Water	0%
Coastline	706 km (439 mi)
Borders	Indonesia: 253 km (157 mi)
Highest point	Tatamailau (2,963 m or 9,721 ft)
Lowest point	Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m (0 ft)
Longest river	Loes River 80 km (50 mi)
Largest lake	Ira Lalaro 1.9 km2 (1 sq mi)
Climate	Tropical
Terrain	Mountainous and rugged
Natural resources	Gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Natural hazards	Landslides are common; earthquakes; and tsunamis.
Environmental issues	deforestation and soil erosion
Exclusive economic zone	70,326 km2 (27,153 sq mi)

Map of East Timor indicating cities and principal roads

The geography of East Timor exhibits a mountainous terrain on the eastern half of the island of Timor in Southeast Asia (or Oceania depending on definitions). East Timor includes the eastern half of Timor, the Ocussi-Ambeno region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Atauro and Jaco. The country is located northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago. 'Timor' is a Portuguese derivation of 'Timor', the Malay word for "Orient"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East Timor is the only Asian nation to lie entirely within the Southern Hemisphere. The Loes River is the longest with a length of 80 km (50 mi). This river system covers an area of 2,184 km² (843 sq mi). It is a small country with a land size of 14,919 km² (5,760 sq mi). The exclusive economic zone is 70,326 km² (27,153 sq mi).

Statistics

Area

• Total: 14,874 km²
• Land: 14,874 km²
• Water: 0 km²

Land boundaries

• Total: 2,538 km (1,577 mi)
• Border countries: Indonesia (253 km or 157 mi)

Coastline

706 km (439 mi)

Maritime claims

• Territorial sea: 12 nmi
• Contiguous zone: 24 nmo
• Exclusive economic zone: 70,326 km² (27,153 sq mi) and 200 nmi
  

Elevation extremes

• Lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
• Highest point: Tatamailau (2,963 m or 9,721 ft)

Natural resources

Gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Land use

• Arable land: 10.1%
• Permanent crops: 4.9%
• Permanent pasture: 10.1%
• Forest: 49.1%
• Other: 25.8% (2011)

Irrigated land

346.5 km² (134 sq mi) (2003)

Climate

Tropical; hot and humid with distinct rainy and dry seasons. Tropical cyclones do occur along with floods.

Environment

Natural hazards

Landslides are common; earthquakes; and tsunamis.

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, climate change, climate change-Kyoto Protocol, desertification

References

• Much of the material in this article is adapted from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and 2012.