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Baucau Municipality

Coordinates: 8°35′S 126°30′E / 8.583°S 126.500°E / -8.583; 126.500
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Baucau
Osolata beach
Osolata beach
Flag
Coat of arms
Map of East Timor highlighting the Municipality
   Baucau in     East Timor
OpenStreetMap
Map
Coordinates: 8°35′S 126°30′E / 8.583°S 126.500°E / -8.583; 126.500
Country East Timor
CapitalBaucau
Administrative Posts
Area
 • Total1,504.2 km2 (580.8 sq mi)
 • Rank4th
Population
 (2015 census)
 • Total123,203
 • Rank3rd
 • Density82/km2 (210/sq mi)
  • Rank5th
Households (2015 census)
 • Total22,976
 • Rank3rd
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (TLT)
ISO 3166 codeTL-BA
HDI (2017)0.602[1]
medium · 9th
WebsiteBaucau Municipality

Baucau (Tetum: Baukau), is the name of one of the 13 municipalities of East Timor, on the northern coast in the eastern part of the country. The municipality was the same during colonial times.

The capital is the city of Baucau (formerly Vila Salazar), the second city of East Timor after Dili that is at about 122 km (76 mi) to the west; it lies at about 512 meters above sea level.

Geography

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Its north edge is to the Wetar Strait, opposite the island of Wetar; it also borders the municipalities of Lautém to the east, Viqueque to the south, and Manatuto to the west.

The municipality has an area of 1,507.95 km2 (582.22 sq mi). The largest part of the municipality is at an altitude between 100 and 500 m (330 and 1,640 ft). Just right on the coast, the country is falling fast at sea level.

The highest mountain of Baucau, and the third highest in East Timor, is Matebian, with 2,316 m (7,598 ft) high; it is in the Quelicai subdistrict.

The rivers Laleia and Manuleiden, in the west of the district, flow to the north into the Wetar Strait. The rivers Seiçal, Borauai, Lequinamo, Binagua and other small rivers are to the east of the city of Baucau; only the Seiçal has water all year round.

Baucau also has a wide shoreline with sandy beaches that are ideal for swimming and other water sports.

Population

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In 2015, about 123,000 people lived in Baucau. The average age is 18.5 years.

Besides the national official languages of Tetum and Portuguese, most of the inhabitants speak the Papuan language Makasae. While most of the inhabitants are Roman Catholics, a few Muslims also live there.

Subdivisions administratives

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It is divided in six administrative posts:Baucau, Laga, and Vemasse with a coastal plain, while Venilale, Quelicai, and Baguia are located inland.

Subdistrict Population Area
(km2)
Baguia 12,962 213.99
Baucau 47,294 369.53
Laga 18,359 191.99
Quelicai 17,450 206.46
Vemasse 9,643 374.62
Venilale 17,495 151.37

Baucau has the most highly developed agriculture in East Timor. Besides the staples rice and corn, Baucau produces beans, peanuts, sweet potatoes, coconuts, candlenut and manioc. It also raises buffalo and goats.

References

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  1. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.

Other websites

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