Manatuto Municipality
Manatuto is one of the municipalities of Timor-Leste, located in the central part of the country. It has a population of 45,541 and an area of 1,783.3 km2. The capital of the municipality is also named Manatuto. It is the least populated municipality of Timor-Leste.
Toponymy
The word Manatuto has been said to be a Portuguese approximation of the local Tetum and Galoli language word Manatutu, which means 'pecking birds'.According to another source, the word is a portmanteau of the Tetum words Mana and tutu, which mean 'old woman' and 'peak' or 'summit', respectively. The legend goes that two groups of people were each living on the summit of a hill, one of them named Sau Raha and the other Sau Lor. The two groups were engaged separately in their own daily activities, but each was accompanied by one of two Liurai, who were brothers.
Geography
The borders of the municipality of Manatuto are identical to those of the council of Portuguese Timor with the same name.The municipality borders the municipalities of Baucau and Viqueque to the east and Manufahi, Aileu, and Dili to the west. It reaches both the south and north coasts of the island, and is only one of two municipalities to do so, and has the most geographical diversity. To the north is the Strait of Wetar, to the south is the Timor Sea.
History
According to a list prepared by, List of [colonial governors of Portuguese Timor|governor of the colony of Portuguese Timor] from 1859 to 1863, Manatuto was one of 47 kingdoms in that colony at the time.Administrative posts
The municipality's administrative posts are:The administrative posts are divided into 29 sucos in total.