Global - Technology - Review

In 2002 East Timor, sometimes known as Timor-Leste, became the first new state of the twenty first century. Consisting of the eastern part of the island of Timor and a detatched portion in Indonesian West Timor, its culture has roots in the days of Portuguese colonization, and the population is mainly Roman Catholic. The climate is hot and humid, and coffee is a major crop. The government hopes to exploit offshore oil and gas reserves. The capital, Dili, was founded by the Portuguese as early as the sixteenth century, and suffered in the fighting during the Indonesian occupation. The cathedral is the largest in south east Asia, and overlooking the city is the massive statue of Chist standing on a globe, the Cristo Rei de Dili. Atauro island, lying to the north of Dili, has a number of offshore coral reefs which might become a destination for ecotourism. Uninhabited Jaco Island is part of a National Park, and is popular with scuba divers.