Dili

Dili

Dili is East Timor's capital and largest city. It is located in a small area of flat land surrounded by mountains on the northern coast of the island of Timor. With distinct wet and dry seasons, the climate is tropical. Since its designation as the capital of Portuguese Timor in 1769, the city has served as the economic center and main port of what is now East Timor. Dry deciduous forests naturally cover the landscape around Dili. Eucalyptus alba can be found in the rocky areas, and palm trees and acacia trees can also be found. The eucalyptus trees are often used for firewood. Along some areas of the coastline, coral reefs, seagrass beds, tidal mudflats, and mangroves are found. Dili's coral reefs appear locally protected from climate change-induced increases in average sea surface temperatures. However, they continue to suffer from human-induced degradation. Behau, Cristo Rei Protected Area and Tasitolu are three protected areas within Dili. The 18.1-kilometer-long Cristo Rei Protected Area is located on the mountains that separate the center of Dili from Hera. The Tasitolu area is 3.8 kilometers long. It is located near the border of the municipalities of Dili and Liquiçá, and includes land and some coastal waters. It is being developed as a place of recreation and as a sacred site. Covering much of the sea east of Dili, as well as coastal areas in Hera and the east, the large 274.9-kilometer Behau Protected Area. The Cristo Rei and Tastitolu sanctuaries have been identified as Important Bird Areas by BirdLife International.