Atambua


Atambua is the regency seat of Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
The town stretches 8.5 km from north to south and 5 km from east to west, and is in the north of the western half of Timor Island. The town is located at an altitude of about 350 m above sea level with temperatures ranging between 23 and 35 degrees Celsius.

Administration

The town has no single level of government, but consists of three of the districts of Belu Regency, each district being composed of four urban subdistricts.
Kode
Wilayah		Name of
District
Area
in km2		Pop'n
Estimate
mid 2024		Subdistricts
53.04.12Kota Atambua
24.9032,119Fatubenoa, Atambua,
Manumtin, Tenukiik
53.04.21Atambua Barat
15.5523,440Beirafu, Berdao,
Tulamalae, Umanen
53.04.22Atambua Selatan
15.7326,699Fatukbot, Lidak,
Manuaman, Rinbesi
Total Atambua town56.1882,258

History

Atambua was founded by the Dutch in October 1916, having moved from Atapupu, a port village in Kakuluk Mesak. Atambua was briefly occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army from 1942 to 1943. They planted many trees, which can be seen in Hutan Jati Nenuk. After Independence, Indonesia's first president, Sukarno went to Atambua and planted more trees in the place now called Lapangan Umum. The most notable tree planted there is the banyan tree. In September 1999, more than 250,000 refugees arrived here from East Timor, after their vote for independence and the following violence. As late as 2002, an estimated 60,000 refugees remained in camps.

Transportation

Air

There is an airport in Atambua, A. A. Bere Tallo Airport, about 5 kilometers from the town centre. The airport's runway is 1600m long.

Water

Atambua has two sea ports, Atapupu for cargo and oil, and Teluk Gurita for passengers. There is a weekly Atambua-Kalabahi ferry service.

Climate

Atambua has a tropical savanna climate with moderate to little rainfall from April to October and heavy rainfall from November to March.