Baucau
Encyclopedia
Baucau is the second-largest city in East Timor
, after Dili
, the capital, which lies 122 km east of Dili.
Baucau has about 16,000 inhabitants, and is the capital of Baucau
, located in the eastern part of the country. In the times of Portuguese Timor
, Baucau was called Vila Salazar, after the Portuguese dictator António de Oliveira Salazar
.
for independence
in 1999. Nevertheless, in the old part of Baucau there survive a few relics from the Portuguese colonial era, such as large colonial houses, churches, and public buildings. One of these is the Pousada de Baucau, a large pink hotel whose restaurant offers a magnificent view of the ocean.
The shops, restaurants, and the imposing municipal market conduct business, although unemployment
, particularly among the young, is very high. There are a few successful experiments that have converted old war-oriented businesses into light engineering, and a league of small businesses are beginning in the areas of hygiene and health, food production and processing, transport, small retail, and tourism.
Baucau also has a hospital, a nursing school and a swimming pool owned by the Pousada de Baucau.
.
(code IATA: NCH), a.k.a LANUD for the local people. It has what is currently the country's longest airport runway, as Dili's Lobato International Airport
can only serve small aircraft like the Boeing 737
. It served as the country's principal airport before the Indonesian invasion in 1975, when it was taken over by the Indonesian military.
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
, after Dili
Dili
Dili, spelled Díli in Portuguese, is the capital, largest city, chief port and commercial centre of East Timor.-Geography and Administration:Dili lies on the northern coast of Timor island, the easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands....
, the capital, which lies 122 km east of Dili.
Baucau has about 16,000 inhabitants, and is the capital of Baucau
Baucau (district)
Baucau , is a district of East Timor, on the northern coast in the eastern part of the country. The capital is also called Baucau . The population of the district is 104,571 and it has an area of 1,494 km2. The subdistricts are Baguia, Baucau, Laga, Quelicai, Vemasse, and Venilale...
, located in the eastern part of the country. In the times of Portuguese Timor
Portuguese Timor
Portuguese Timor was the name of East Timor when it was under Portuguese control. During this period, Portugal shared the island of Timor with the Netherlands East Indies, and later with Indonesia....
, Baucau was called Vila Salazar, after the Portuguese dictator António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar, GColIH, GCTE, GCSE served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968. He also served as acting President of the Republic briefly in 1951. He founded and led the Estado Novo , the authoritarian, right-wing government that presided over and controlled Portugal...
.
Infrastructure
Much of the infrastructure of the city and the surrounding area was damaged or destroyed during the riots that followed the referendumReferendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
for independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
in 1999. Nevertheless, in the old part of Baucau there survive a few relics from the Portuguese colonial era, such as large colonial houses, churches, and public buildings. One of these is the Pousada de Baucau, a large pink hotel whose restaurant offers a magnificent view of the ocean.
The shops, restaurants, and the imposing municipal market conduct business, although unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
, particularly among the young, is very high. There are a few successful experiments that have converted old war-oriented businesses into light engineering, and a league of small businesses are beginning in the areas of hygiene and health, food production and processing, transport, small retail, and tourism.
Baucau also has a hospital, a nursing school and a swimming pool owned by the Pousada de Baucau.
Religion
Baucau is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baucau, one of the two Bishoprics in East Timor. It was founded on November 30, 1996, when the bishopric in Dili split. Its bishop is Basilio do NascimentoBasilio do Nascimento
Basílio do Nascimento Martins is the Roman Catholic bishop of Baucau, East Timor.He was born on June 14, 1950, in Suai, then Portuguese Timor and ordained priest in Évora, in 1977...
.
Transportation
Six kilometers from the city lies the Cakung AirportCakung Airport
Cakung Airport is an unattended airport located west of Baucau, a city in East Timor .Under Portuguese rule, Baucau Airport, which has a much longer runway than Dili's Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport was used for international flights, including those of Trans Australia Airlines...
(code IATA: NCH), a.k.a LANUD for the local people. It has what is currently the country's longest airport runway, as Dili's Lobato International Airport
Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport
Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport , formerly known as Comoro International Airport, is an airport located in Dili, the capital of East Timor...
can only serve small aircraft like the Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
. It served as the country's principal airport before the Indonesian invasion in 1975, when it was taken over by the Indonesian military.