Manatuto

Manatuto

Located in the central part of the country, Manatuto is one of the municipalities of East Timor. Manatuto is also the name of the municipality's capital city, and it is the least inhabited municipality of East Timor. Much of the landscape and the villages in it have remained virtually unchanged over the centuries. Forests and coastal marshes near the remote south coast have been proposed for designation as part of a wildlife sanctuary extending westward into the nearby Manufahi. The area, known as Sungai Clere, is rich in birdlife, including rare cockatoos and pigeons, and is flooded every rainy season. The word Manatuto is thought to be a Portuguese adaptation of the native Tetum and Galoli word Manatutu, which translates to "pecking birds". The boundaries of the Municipality of Manatuto coincide with those of the Council of Portuguese Timor of the same name. It borders Baucau and Viqueque to its east and Manufahi, Aileu and Dili to its west. The municipality reaches both the southern and northern coastlines of the island, and is the most diverse geographically. The Strait of Wetar lies to the north, and the Timor Sea to the south. The city of Manatuto is known for producing salt and for its plentiful tamarind.