East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern part of the island of Timor, as well as the exclave of Oecusse in the northwest of the island and the small islands of Atauro and Jaco. East Timor came under Portuguese influence in the nineteenth century and remained a Portuguese colony until 1975. After a conflict, East Timor unilaterally declared independence but was annexed by Indonesia. After long resistance and a UN-led referendum, East Timor became the first sovereign state of the 21st century in 2002. Major attractions include the beaches of Atauro, the capital Dili with the historic Cidade Velha, the National Museum and the statue of Christ, and the Nino Konis Santana National Park.
