of oil and natural gas lie offshore.
History
Little is known of Timor’s early history.
The Portuguese settled on the island in
1520. The Dutch also claimed part of
the island, and the two countries fought
for control for many years. Portugal
gained firm control over East Timor by
1914. In 1975 East Timor declared its
independence. However, Indonesia soon
invaded.
In 1999 Indonesia allowed East Timor
to vote for or against independence. The
voters chose independence, but armed
groups that opposed it killed hundreds
and left the country in ruins. The
United Nations stepped in to keep peace
as East Timor set up a government. In
2002 East Timor became an independent
republic.
..More to explore
Dili • Indonesia
East Timorese girls perform a traditional
dance in Manatuto, East Timor.
Facts About
EAST TIMOR
Population
(2008 estimate)
1,078,000
Area
5,639 sq mi
(14,604 sq km)
Capital
Dili
Form of
government
Republic
Major cities
Dili, Dare, Baucau,
Maliana,
Ermera
96 East Timor BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Echidna
Echidnas are unusual mammals. Along
with their relative the platypus, echidnas
are the only living mammals that lay
eggs. Echidnas are also called spiny anteaters.
There are three species, or kinds, of
echidna. The short-nosed echidna is
common in Australia and on the island
of Tasmania. Two species of long-nosed
echidna live only on the island of New
Guinea.
Echidnas are stocky animals with a short
tail. They have brownish fur with spines
sticking through. Their feet have strong
claws that are good for digging. They
have a very small mouth and a long,
sticky tongue. The short-nosed echidna
is about 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 centimeters)
long. It has a straight snout that
points forward. The long-nosed echidnas
are usually 18–31 inches (45–78
centimeters) long. They have a longer,
downward-pointing snout.
The short-nosed echidna eats ants and
termites that it catches with its long,
sticky tongue. Long-nosed echidnas eat
mostly earthworms.
A female echidna usually lays a single
leathery egg. The mother holds the egg
in a pouch on her body. It hatches about
10 days later. The newborn lives in the
pouch for about two months. The baby
sucks milk through special hairs on the
mother’s body. The young echidna goes
off on its own after it has grown spines
and fur and can find its own food.
#More to explore
Anteater • Mammal • Platypus
Eclipse
An eclipse happens when one object in
space blocks another from view. For
example, during a solar eclipse theMoon
comes between Earth and the sun. The
Moon blocks the sun for a time so that
people on Earth cannot see it.
In ancient times solar eclipses caused
great fear and wonder. People did not
understand why the sky sometimes
darkened in the middle of the day.
Today scientists understand why eclipses
happen and can determine when they
will occur.
Eclipses happen because planets, moons,
and other objects constantly move
through space. For instance, Earth travels
around the sun in a path called an
The short-nosed echidna is a common
mammal in Australia.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Eclipse 97
in the middle. The Moon is then in
Earth’s shadow. But the Moon does not
appear completely dark. Instead, it glows
a dim orange or red color. This is
because some light reaches the Moon
indirectly. This light bounces off the
gases surrounding Earth and then hits
the Moon.
Lunar eclipses can be total or partial.
Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is
safe to view directly.
#More to explore
Earth • Moon • Sun
Ecology
Ecology is the study of the relationships
between living things and their surroundings,
or environment. Scientists
who work in ecology are called ecologists.
Ecologists examine how living
things depend on one another for survival.
They also study how living things
use such natural resources as air, soil,
and water to stay alive.
Some ecologists work in laboratories.
Laboratory experiments allow ecologists
to study things under controlled conditions.
For instance, they can experiment
to see how plants react to different
amounts of light or water. Such studies
are harder in a natural setting because
weather and other natural conditions
cannot be controlled.
However, many ecologists do work in
natural, outdoor settings. They look at
all the different factors that affect ecosystems,
or communities of living things.
Studies in the outdoors are useful
because they show what is actually happening
in the environment.
Ecology is important because it shows
how changes in the environment affect
the survival of living things. For
example, when pollution kills certain
living things, the animals that feed on
them also may die. The work of ecologists
has convinced many people to protect
the environment and all the
ecosystems that it supports.
#More to explore
Ecosystem • Environment • Living
Thing
Economics
Economics is the study of the economy,
or the part of a society that creates
wealth.Wealth is not just money.
Wealth comes from the production of
goods and services, which people buy
with money. People who study economics,
called economists, look at how
An ecologist studies pitcher plants as they
