The full official name of the state is the Democratic Republic of East Timor-Leste or simply Timor-Leste. The country is located on the eastern half of the island of Timor and its neighboring islands of Atauro (Atauro) and Jaco (Jaco) and is part of Southeast Asia. The capital city is Dili. The name comes from the word “timur”, which in Indonesian and Malay means “east”, “leste” is a Portuguese word, which also means “east”. East Timor is one of the most modern countries in terms of the date of its creation. From the 16th century until 1975, the country was under the occupation of Portugal, and then, having gained Independence, it immediately lost it and became the 27th province of Indonesia. Sovereignty was obtained by East Timor only in the 21st century, namely on May 20, 2002, with the support of the United Nations.
Geography of East Timor
According to itypemba, East Timor is considered to be part of Maritime Southeast Asia, it is located between 8 ° and 10 ° S latitude and between 124 ° and 128 ° E longitude. It is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. North of East Timor are the straits of Ombai and Wetar, as well as the great Banda Sea. The Timor Sea separates the island from Australia to the south, while the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara lies to the west of East Timor. Most of the country is occupied by mountains, the highest point is Mount Tatamailau (Tatamailau), also known as Mount Ramelau (Ramelau) – 2,963 meters above sea level. The easternmost region of the country consists of the Paitchau Range and Lake Ira Lalaro, near which the first reserve of East Timor is located Nino Konis Santana National Park (Nino Konis Santana), which preserves the last dry tropical forests remaining in the country. This zone is extremely sparsely populated; rare species of animals and plants grow and live in it, some of which are endemic (species that exist only here). The north coast of East Timor is surrounded by coral reefs that have been rated as “dangerous”.
Capital
Dili
Area
The area of East Timor is 15,007 km. sq.
Population
1,066,409 people.
Currency
The state currency is the US dollar (USD).
Language
The official language is Tetum, Portuguese.
Visa to East Timor
30-day tourist visa issued upon arrival at the airport (about $30)
Weather in East Timor
East Timor has a typical tropical climate, hot and humid. It also has dry and rainy seasons. The period from November to May is the rainy season, from June to October the dry season prevails in the country. The average annual temperature in East Timor is 30°C, but in mountainous areas it can drop much lower. The rainy season is often the cause of the collapse and erosion of roads, so traveling to remote areas of the country during this period is highly discouraged.
Currency exchange in East Timor
It is recommended to pay the visa fee upon entry in cash in US dollars. Airports and border posts are not equipped with ATMs or currency exchange offices. In major cities of the country there are ATMs of many banks that serve foreign bank cards such as Visa and Mastercard.
Electricity
220V/50Hz, Euro sockets
Religion
The state religion of East Timor is Catholicism; according to 2010 data, 96.9% of the country’s citizens profess it. 2.2% of residents are Protestant, 0.3% Muslim and 0.5% other religions. In rural areas, Catholicism gradually mixed with local folk beliefs and changed. East Timor promotes religious freedom, but its constitution recognizes “the participation of the Catholic Church in the process of national liberation.” In Southeast Asia, East Timor is one of two Catholic countries along with the Philippines, most of the region preaches Buddhism and Islam.
Security
The main risk associated with staying in East Timor is the political instability of the country. Before the trip, it is recommended to clarify the situation in the country. Otherwise, East Timor focuses on strict enforcement of traffic rules and the prevention of petty crime. In general, the crime rate in East Timor is not high, but you should not wander alone along the beach at night, especially lonely girls. In the context of thefts, mobile phones and private vehicles are particularly attractive targets.
Health
The average life expectancy in East Timor is 60.7 years. The birth rate is about 6 children per woman. The average government spending on health care is US$150 per capita. Many citizens of East Timor do not have enough drinking water. East Timor has a program supported by Cuba to increase the number of doctors in the country, by 2015 they should be more than in any other country in Southeast Asia. According to the Global Hunger Index, East Timor is rated “alarming”. The country is the hungriest in the region and the 4th hungriest in the world. The most pressing problems in East Timor are dengue fever and malaria. Antibiotics and other medicines are easy to buy in the capital, Dili, but much more difficult in any other city in the country. There are hospitals in East Timor, but they also struggle with comprehensive treatment or complex medical cases. Evacuation is often the only way out in case of complex injuries and severe illnesses. Foreign tourists are strongly discouraged from visiting East Timor without health insurance that would include air ambulance.
