Timor Leste, formerly known in English as East Timor, is a former Portuguese colony on Timor, the southeasternmost major island of the Indonesian archipelago. Colonized in the 16th century, Timor Leste is a remnant of the once-extensive Portuguese holdings in the Indies. When Portugal withdrew in 1975, Indonesian troops seized the country. This led to a long struggle for independence, which was finally achieved in 2002.
ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume K of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.
- Lighthouses
* Oecussi (Oekusi) - Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white flash every 4 s. No description or photo available, but a Google satellite view shows a tower at the coordinates given by NGA. Oecussi is an enclave of Timor Leste on the north coast of Indonesian West Timor, separated from the rest of Timor Leste by about 70 km (44 mi). Located at what appears to be a new port facility near Pante Makassar in the eastern part of the enclave. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS TIM-001; Admiralty K1365.7; NGA 25702.
- * Dili
- 1896. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 6 s. 17 m (56 ft) octagonal skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a massive masonry base that presumably included the keeper's quarters. Access to the lantern is by an exposed stairway that spirals around a central column. Lighthouse painted white with two green horizontal bands around the base. A 2004 photo of this unusual lighthouse shows it painted all white. Located on the beach on the western side of Dili, the capital of Timor Leste, not far from the U.S. embassy. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS TIM-001; Admiralty K1368; NGA 25708.
- Pulau Yako
- Date unknown. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); white flash every 3 s. "White lighthouse," according to NGA. No photo available. Located on a small island off the eastern tip of Timor. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS TIM-002; Admiralty K1371.5; NGA 25717.5.
Dili Light, November 2006
Creative Commons photo
by Kok Leng Yeo