Tatamailau

The Tatamailau, the highest mountain in Timor, on a clear day

The Tatamailau from aircraft gesehenbdep2

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The Tatamailau ( Foho Tatamailau, Foho Ramelau ) in East Timor is with 2963m the highest mountain on the island of Timor. During the Portuguese colonial era of the mountain Pico do Ramelau was named after the Ramelau mountains surrounding it.

Naming

The name " Tatamailau " comes from the local language Mambai and in German means " grandfather of all ". The mountain is regarded as home to the souls of the dead in the region. It is volcanic in origin. It is located in the center of the island of Timor, on the border between the districts of Ermera and Ainaro. The summit is on the side Ermeras in Suco Baboi Leten. From Dili there are up to Tatamailau about 70 km to the south.

Rise

The mountain can be climbed within two and a half hours of Hatu - Builico (1950 m) in the district of Ainaro. It's more of a steady climb, as a climbing. The first 2.5 km can be driven with an all-terrain car until you reach a meadow at an altitude of 2280 m. From here it is only a half to two hours on a wide trail to the summit, which can also be mounted. At 2700 m, a prayer space for exhibitions is in the open. At the top is since 1997 a three-meter high statue of Mary, who comes from Italy. With their lineup, the Virgin Mary was the patron saint of East Timor. An inscription from 1938 identifies the site in Portuguese as the point of the Portuguese colonial empire, the every day first sees the sunrise (Portugal - Alto Império que o Sol logo em nascendo vê primeiro ). At this time the Tatamailau was also the highest mountain in the Portuguese colonial empire. In good weather you can see from the summit of North and South coasts of Timor and even the island of Atauro. A secondary peak is about 1,200 m south west Doramelau.

The anthem Foho Ramelau by Francisco Borja da Costa is the official anthem of the FRETILIN.

The Wildlife Reserve

Since 2000, the summit with the entire area is about 2000 m and the surrounding forest a wildlife refuge. Here is one of the three most important protected areas for orchids, besides those at Monte Mundo Perdido and the Fatumasin. In addition to the mountain 30 372 hectares have been designated as Important Bird Area.

History

The region around the Tatamailau 1976 was a retreat for the Falintil who fought against the Indonesian invaders. Close to the mountain she founded in the district Ermera the base de apoio Catraileten ( subdistrict Letefoho ), a resistance base, the refuge for refugees from Letefoho, Ermera, Ainaro, Aileu and Cailaco bot. On May 18, 1978, the base was destroyed by the Indonesians.