List of rivers of Timor-Leste

This is a list of rivers in Timor-Leste. The list is arranged by catchment, drainage basin or watershed from west to east, with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name.

Overview

Timor-Leste has over 100 rivers arising in its highlands and discharging into its coastal zone. The country also has 29 main river systems – 12 in its north and 17 in its south. As the island of Timor is small and Timor-Leste's topography is steep, the rivers are short and drain quickly, with fast flowing discharges.
Almost all of Timor-Leste's creeks and rivers originate in its central mountain range or ridge, which dominates the country. The mountain range extends from Tatamailau, or Tata Mailau, sometimes referred as Mount Ramelau in the west to the in the east, and includes Ira Lalaro, the country's largest lake. A drainage divide trends along it, approximately from southwest to northeast; rain falling north of the divide flows northwards, and that falling to its south drains southwards.
The country's rainfall has distinct seasonal variability affected by the West Pacific Monsoon. Maximum precipitation occurs only in the high elevations of the mountain range. The northern coast is drier than its southern counterpart.
Very few of Timor-Leste's rivers flow perennially, because the country is narrow from north to south, and has steep terrain and infrequent rain. Most of the rivers have short courses, are dry most of the year, and are not navigable. In the dry season, the ephemeral rivers often form pools of stagnant water. The south has more perennial rivers than the north because of its larger catchment areas, longer rainy season, greater rainfall and prevailing winds. According to a Timor-Leste Water Sector Assessment and Roadmap published by The World Bank in 2018:
During periods of greater precipitation, the rivers in the south cannot accommodate the whole of their flow, and therefore overspill into coastal swamps and lagoons known as coilões.
On the north coast, most rivers are choked with nearshore gravel, and there are few deltas. The reason is that the offshore gradient, into either Ombai Strait or Wetar Strait, is very steep, with the consequence that sediment that flows offshore is deposited in deep water. On the south coast, where the offshore gradient into the Timor Sea is much gentler, deltas are common.
Many of Timor-Leste's rivers are polluted by sewage released from homes and light industrial premises, due to a lack of basic sanitation. Additionally, the majority of the population uses river water for washing clothes, bathing and other domestic uses, and thus promotes the spread of diseases.
The country has been broadly divided into twelve 'hydrologic units', groupings of climatologically and physiographically similar and adjacent river catchments, drainage basins or watersheds. Each hydrologic unit is made up of a number of rivers. In total, there are 29 main river systems in Timor-Leste – 12 in the north and 17 in the south.
Timor-Leste's longest river is the North Laclo, at about long; its largest catchment is that of the Loes, which has a total area of, about 9% of which lies in Indonesia.
The people of Timor-Leste often have no single common name for, or any single spelling of any name allocated to, a particular river. Further, an East Timorese river may change its name several times between its source and its mouth. The names set out below are therefore not necessarily authoritative, either as to the name of a river, or as to the spelling of any particular name.

North coast

Leometik River
Fatumolin River
Berita River
Loes River
*Lauveli River
**Dikasbata River
**Emderilua River
**Gumuloa River
**Dirobatelau River
**Manobira River
**Curiho River
**Gleno River
***Goumeca River
****Buro River
***Roumetalena River
***Maurotieramata River
***Aileu River
*Marobo River
**Manusama River
***Gamerama River
***Lahora River
***Bapera River
**Celere River
**Garai River
***Aiboro River
***Ladibau River
**Magapu River
***Baluani River
**Aimera River
**Boroulo River
**Babonasolan River
**Babalai River
*Bebai River
**Claola River
**Hatoleai River
**Hatopoci River
***Timoreme River
**Meuculi River
**Bulobo River
**Matenua River
**Sasso River
**Laecouken River
**Talau River
***Merak River
**Malibacu River
Marae River
Bahonu River
Palua River
Malukai River
Palapu River
Laklo River
Gularloa River
Carbutaeloa River
Moraeloa River
Comoro River
*Bemos River
*Boera River
Santana River
Erseic River
Lobain River
Aiscahe River
North Laclo River
*Sumasse River
**Bobo River
*Coi River
*Ulahu River
*Lihobani River
**Ueseic River
**Hatossi River
*Mutoko River
*Lolun River
*Aimaleum River
*Noru River
**Coumai River
*Hatoarabau River
*Marenu River
*Karama River
*Daisoli River
*Manufonihun River
**Manolane River
Dolacuain River
Laleia River
*Baunoi River
**Bueana River
**Sorec River
*Caleuc River
*Abai River
*Tutoli River
*Mori River
Vemasse River
Manuleiden River
Seiçal River
*Cainame River
*Salubada River
**Cassaquiar River
*Sauma River
*Buihiu River
Borouai River
Lianau River
Uaimuhi River
Lequinamo River
Laivai River
Buiguira River
Raumoco River
Malailada River

South coast

Masin River
Tafara River
*Maubui River
**Nanamauk River
Kamanasa River
*Karautun River
*Nabuk River
Raiketan River
Foura River
Loumea River
*Pa River
*Laco River
Mola River
*Fatoro River
Belulik River
*Buronuno River
**Sarai River
Caraulun River
*Aiasa River
*Sui River
Quelun River
South Laclo River
*Clerec River
*Marak River
Sahen River
*Laniara River
Dilor River
*Culacao River
Luca River
Tuco River
Cuha River
*Lee River
Bebui River
Metauai River
Irabere River
*Calicidere River
*Oulauai River
*Boro River
Veira River
Namaluto River
*Tchino River
Vero River

[Oecusse]

Noel Besi River
Tono River
*Abanal River
*Kinloki River
*Ekai River
*Columu River