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Kupang

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Kupang is a busy capital city in Indonesia.

Night at Kupang city
Night at Kupang city

It sits on the southwestern tip of Timor island. The Savu Sea lies just to the north of the city. Kupang is the largest city and the only independent city in the East Nusa Tenggara province. It is also the southernmost large city in all of Indonesia. Because of its location, it is the closest large city to Australia.

Tenau Port Kupang
Tenau Port Kupang

The land in Kupang is mostly low and flat. Some groups of hills rise up in the south and southwest. These hills help create a fertile area for plants to grow. The city sits on 180.27 square kilometers of land. It also has 94.79 square kilometers of water area. A river called the Koinino flows through the area. This river has always been important because it provides fresh water. The soil here is made of materials that do not come from volcanoes.

Kupang has a long and interesting history. The Dutch East India Company first met the area in 1613. At that time, a Raja of the Helong tribe ruled the land. The Dutch built a fort called Fort Concordia in 1653. This fort sat near the mouth of the river. Many different groups of people moved to the area over the years. This included Chinese traders and people called mardijkers.

COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Haven van Kupang TMnr 10010359
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Haven van Kupang TMnr 10010359

Famous travelers have passed through Kupang during different times. In 1789, William Bligh was set adrift in an open boat. He traveled 6,710 kilometers and landed in Kupang on 14 June. Later, a group of nine convicts and two children escaped from Australia. They traveled in an open boat for ten weeks to reach the city. The city also faced hard times during wars. British forces attacked the town in 1797 and 1811.

COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Residentiehuis Koepang TMnr 60022905
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Residentiehuis Koepang TMnr 60022905

Today, Kupang is a very diverse place to live. The population was about 474,801 in mid-2024. Most people in the city are young workers. Many people move here from other regions to find jobs. Most people work in the service sector, like in offices or shops. The city also has three cement plants that make 250,000 tons of cement every year.

El tari airport
El tari airport

The weather is tropical with very wet and very dry seasons. January is the wettest month, while August and September are the driest.

RSUD W Z Johannes Kupang
RSUD W Z Johannes Kupang
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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Haven van Kupang TMnr 10010359.jpg
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Haven van Kupang...
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Residentiehuis Koepang TMnr 60022905.jpg
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Residentiehuis...
File:Night at Kupang city.jpg
Night at Kupang city.jpg
File:RSUD W Z Johannes Kupang.jpg
RSUD W Z Johannes Kupang.jpg
File:El tari airport.jpg
El tari airport.jpg
File:Tenau Port Kupang.jpg
Tenau Port Kupang.jpg
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