Baucau 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  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 municipalities of Lautém to the east, Viqueque to the south, and Manatuto to the west.

The municipality has an area of . The largest part of the municipality is at an altitude between . 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  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
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 
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

Economy
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

Other websites

 Ministry of State Administration 
 Bacau District Development Plan 2002/2003 

Category:Municipalities of East Timor