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 View over tropical dry forest to coastal strand vegetation on the island | |
  Jaco Island Location inTimor-Leste | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Banda Sea (Wetar Strait),Timor Sea |
| Coordinates | 8°25′30″S127°19′30″E / 8.425°S 127.325°E /-8.425; 127.325 |
| Archipelago | Timor Archipelago (within theLesser Sunda Islands) |
| Area | 8 km2 (3.1 sq mi) |
| Length | 4.2 km (2.61 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 100 m (300 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 (2024) |
Jaco Island (Portuguese:Ilha de Jaco,Tetum:Illa Jako,Fataluku:Totina orTontina) is an uninhabited island inTimor-Leste, a country occupying the eastern end of the island ofTimor in theLesser Sunda Islands in Southeast Asia. It lies off the eastern tip withCape Cutcha of the island ofTimor (Aldeia Pitileti,SucoTutuala,administrative postTutuala,municipalityLautém).
Jaco is made oflimestone formed from coral.[1] Limestone cliffs and coral reefs surround the densely forested island, which is part of theNino Konis Santana National Park.[2]
Jaco Island lies just off the eastern end of the island of Timor, part of theTutuala subdistrict inLautém District, and is separated from the mainland in front ofValu Beach by a 600 m-wide (660 yd) channel or strait (known as Jaco Strait) navigable by small vessels.
Jaco is regarded as sacred by the local population because the beach and the channel are sometimes said to be the points whereTimor Sea (Tasi Mane, the men's sea) meets the boundary between theBanda Sea (Tasi Feto, the women's sea) includingWetar Strait to the north andTimor Sea to the south.[3][4] According to the standard workLimits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition (1953), published by theInternational Hydrographic Organization (IHO), however, the only point where Timor meets those two seas is Tanjong Sewirawa (now known as Cape Cutcha), the eastern extremity of the Timorese mainland.[5][6] Cape Cutcha is a short distance northwest of the island, and north of the beach.[6] In principle, entering the island, fishing and swimming were therefore forbidden (Tara Bandu). Today, however, fishermen drive tourists from the oppositeValu Beach to the sandy beaches of Jaco for snorkelling and diving. Overnight stays on the island are still not allowed. In February and March, mechi, large feasts ofMeci worms (Eunice viridis) are harvested from the sea on the north coast.[7]
At least three places on the island have the remains of ancient fortifications built by the local population to protect settlements:Lai Vai,Pitilete andHonolati. In Portuguese, such fortifications are calledtranqueira (English: cover, entrenchment).[8] The only modern structure on the island was a lighthouse from theIndonesian occupation period, a white scaffold tower about 35 m high. It was shut down in 2010 and later dismantled.[9]
The island is low-lying, with an area of 11 km2 (4.2 sq mi) and a maximum elevation of about 100 m (330 ft). It is covered mainly bytropical dry forest, fringed by strand vegetation and white sandy beaches. There are some low cliffs on the southern coast.
The East Timorese warship NRTLJaco is named after the island.
The average annual temperature is roughly 27 °C (81 °F). On average the island receives 1,436 mm (56.5 in) of rain and the north and east coast of the small island is somewhat drier.
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Jaco is listed byBirdLife International as anImportant Bird Area.[10] The island supports populations ofbar-necked cuckoo-doves,black cuckoo-doves,pink-headed imperial pigeons,streak-breasted honeyeaters,fawn-breasted whistlers,blue-cheeked flowerpeckers,flame-breasted sunbirds andTimor sparrows.[11] Rare birds such as thegreat cuckoo dove (Macropygia magna ) and theorpheus fathead (Pachycephala orpheus ) live on the island, which is around 8 km2 in size and up to 100 meters high.Javan rusa (Rusa timorensis ) are also found here which have become accustomed to drinking salt water due to the island's lack of fresh water.[11] In 2019, about 80 deer were counted on the island. This year, however, as late rains in December withered the greenery, several deer died. 30 of them swam the 600 metres to the shore of Timor to look for food.[12] The beaches in the southeast are used by sea turtles to lay their eggs. Reptiles living on the island includeSmooth night skinks and Forest skinks.[11] In the surrounding waters, you can observe whales and dolphins as well as numerous species of fish.[2][7]
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Media related toJaco Island at Wikimedia Commons
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