is one of 13 administrative
Districts of
East Timor , in the southwest part of the country. It has a population of 53,629 (census 2004) and an area of 797 km&
2. Its capital is the city of
Ainaro , a small mountain town.
The district is identical to that of the same in n occupation, the subdistrict of
Turiscai became part of
Manufahi from Ainaro, and the subdistrict of
Hatudo became part of Ainaro in exchange.
The district borders the districts of
Aileu to the north,
Manufahi to the south,
Cova-Lima to the southwest,
Bobonaro to the west, and
Ermera to the northwest. The subdistricts of Ainaro now are
Ainaro ,
Hatudo ,
Hatu Builico , and
Maubisse .
Ainaro has a great abundance of rivers and fertile terrain for agriculture. It has a coastal area, on the
Timor Sea , but also mountainous zones, including the highest point in East Timor, Mount
Ramelau (2,960 m), also known as Tatamailau, which lies near the border with
Ermera . Historically, Ainaro played an important role during the brutal
Indonesia n occupation of East Timor, providing shelter for the mountain-based guerrilla resistance army. Former guerrilla leader and current President
Xanana Gusmão spent many years directing the resistance from Ainaro.
In addition to the official languages of
Tetum and
Portuguese , a large number of inhabitants of Ainaro speak the
Malayo-Polynesian Language Mambai . The inhabitants include
Catholic s,
Protestant s, and
Muslim s living side by side.
