Atauro Island (also
Pulau Atauro,
Ataúro) is a small island situated 25km north of
Dili,
East Timor, on the extinct Wetar segment of the
volcanic Inner Banda Arc, between the
Indonesian islands of
Alor and
Wetar. Politically it comprises one of the subdistricts of the
Dili District of East Timor. It is about 25 km long and 9 km wide, about 105 km² in area, and is inhabited by about 8000 people.
The name means 'goat' in the local language, and it is also known as Kambing Island (Pulau Kambing) by the Indonesians (Kambing means 'goat' in Indonesian). It was so named because of the large number of goats kept there.
[See East Timorese patrol boat Atauro .]
The island is separated into 5 districts, each surrounding a village Bikeli and Beloi in the north, Macadade (formerly Anartutu) in the southwest, and Makili and Vila (formerly Maumeta) in the southeast. The largest town is Vila. Other major towns include Pala, Uaroana, Arlo, Adara, and Berau. One bitumen road connects Vila to Pala, with walking paths to the other villages on the island. There is an airstrip (IATA designation AUT (WPAT)).
