Baucau Baukau |
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District | ||
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Map of East Timor highlighting Baucau District |
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Coordinates: 8°35′S 126°30′E / 8.583°S 126.500°ECoordinates: 8°35′S 126°30′E / 8.583°S 126.500°E | ||
Country | East Timor | |
Capital | Baucau | |
Subdistricts | Baguia, Baucau, Laga, Quelicai, Vemasse, Venilale | |
Area | ||
• Total | 1,506 km2 (581 sq mi) | |
Area rank | 4th | |
Population (2015) | ||
• Total | 124,061 | |
• Rank | 3rd | |
• Density | 82/km2 (210/sq mi) | |
• Density rank | 5th | |
Households | ||
• Total | 22.659 (as of 2004) | |
• Rank | 3rd | |
Time zone | UTC+9 | |
ISO 3166 code | TL-BA |
Baucau (Tetum: Baukau), is a district of East Timor, on the northern coast in the eastern part of the country. The capital is also called Baucau (formerly Vila Salazar). The population of the district is 111,694 (census 2010) and it has an area of 1,506 km². The subdistricts are Baguia, Baucau, Laga, Quelicai, Vemasse, and Venilale (formerly known as Vila Viçosa). The district was the same during the colonial era. Its north edge is to the Wetar Strait; it also borders the districts of Lautém to the east, Viqueque to the south, and Manatuto to the west.
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.
Baucau has the most highly developed agriculture in East Timor. Besides the staples rice and corn, Baucau produces beans, peanuts, sweet potatoes, copra, candlenut and manioc. It also raises buffalo and goats. A shortage of transportation links and the unpredictability of energy availability stymie the development of emerging industries.