Baucau District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baucau District (Baukau) |
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 Rice fields south of the city of Baucau
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| Country |  East Timor |
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| Subdistricts | Baguia, Baucau, Laga, Quelicai, Vemasse, Venilale | |
| Capital | Baucau | |
| - elevation | 512 m (1,680 ft) | |
| - coordinates | 8°28′N 126°27′E / 8.467°N 126.450°E | |
| Area | 1,508 km² (582 sq mi) | |
| Population | 117,348 (2011) | |
| Density | 78 /km² (202 /sq mi) | |
| District Administrator | António A. Guterres | |
| Timezone | Time in East Timor (UTC+9) | |
| ISO 3166-2 | TL-BA | |
Baucau (Tetum: Baukau), is the name of one of the 13 districts of East Timor, on the northern coast in the eastern part of the country. The district 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
Its north edge is to the Wetar Strait, opposite the island of Wetar; it also borders the districts of Lautém to the east, Viqueque to the south, and Manatuto to the west.
The district has an area of 1,507.95 km2 (582.22 sq mi). The largest part of the district lies 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 the district, and the third highest in East Timor, is Matebian, with 2,316 m (7,598 ft) high; it is located 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
In the district of Baucau live 117,348 inhabitants (2011) and the population density is 77.8 inhabitants per km². The average age is 18.5 years.
Besides the national official languages of Tetum and Portuguese, most of the inhabitants of the district speak the Papuan language Makasae. While most of the inhabitants are Roman Catholics, a few Muslims also live there.
Subdivisions administratives
It is divided in six subdistricts:Baucau, Laga, and Vemasse with a coastal plain, while Venilale, Quelicai, and Baguia are located inland.
| Subdistrict | Population | Area (km2) |
|---|---|---|
| Baguia | 9,465 | 213.99 |
| Baucau | 46,500 | 369.53 |
| Laga | 14,432 | 191.99 |
| Quelicai | 16,747 | 206.46 |
| Vemasse | 9,008 | 374.62 |
| Venilale | 15,542 | 151.37 |
Economy
The district of 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.
See also
In Spanish: Distrito de Baucau para niños
