Ira Lalaro

Ira Lalaro is in the far east of Timor island, and is part of the Nino Konis Santana National Park (, which was established in August 2007 by East Timor. The lake is located in a basin bounded by the Paitchau Mountains, within the Lospalos plateau. The region has karstic formations of limestone, with dolines, blind valleys, caves and springs. Ira Lalaro has an average water spread area of , which varies from . It is in a high plateau depression at an elevation of "formed by a huge polje karst formation". The lake flows to the east and as the lake water recedes during the dry season the land exposed becomes a pasture or scrubby grassland. The lake basin is surrounded by tropical dry forest which is of biodiversity value. The Irasiquero River, which originates from Lake Ira Lalaru, disappears in the main sink hole, the Mainina, about downstream of the lake outlet, and does not re-appear; tracer studies indicate that the underground route of water flow leads to the coast. There are human settlements in the area. ==Biodiversity==

'' snake in the lake's floodplain The biodiversity of the lake's aquatic system, including the Irasiquero River, is that of a wetland ecosystem. The forest area is largely undisturbed. The Timor snake-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi timorensis) is also endemic to the lake and the river. and is protected under CITES Appendix II. The lake area has both migratory and resident water birds. There are 16 species of bats (cave roosters), including Geoffroy's rousette fruit bat (Rousettus amplexicaudatus), Canut's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus canuti), and Sumba round leaf bat (Hipposideros sumbae). ==References==