Beneath Atauro's Blue
Atauro (Portuguese: Ilha de Ataúro , Tetum: Illa Ataúru , Indonesian: Pulau Atauro ), also known as Kambing Island ( Pulau Kambing ), is a small oceanic island and municipality of Timor-Leste, located north of Dili in the Lesser Sunda Islands. It lies between the Indonesian islands of Alor and Wetar, with the nearest island, Liran, only 13 km away. Atauro became a separate municipality on January 1, 2022, after previously being part of Dili. Stretching 22 km long and 5–10 km wide, with an area of 150 km², Atauro’s rugged landscape is the result of eroded, uplifted submarine volcanoes. Its narrow ridges and steep slopes rise to Mount Manucoco, the island’s highest point at 999 meters. Extensive uplifted coralline limestone covers much of the island, while patches of tropical semi-evergreen mountain forest remain in sheltered valleys. Lower areas feature dry forests, eucalyptus savanna woodlands, limestone outcrops, and cultivated land near villages. 1.1. Atauro island The island i...
