Loes River

Loes River
View of the Loes River estuary
Location of river mouth
Native name
Location
CountryTimor-Leste
Municipalities
Physical characteristics
Source confluence 
 • locationBobonaro / Liquiçá border
 • coordinates8°46′5″S 125°12′11″E / 8.76806°S 125.20306°E / -8.76806; 125.20306
MouthOmbai Strait
 • location
Rairobo / Vatuboro
 • coordinates
8°44′30″S 125°05′31″E / 8.7417°S 125.0919°E / -8.7417; 125.0919
Length123 km (76 mi)
Basin size2,633 km2 (1,017 sq mi)
Basin features
BridgesLoes Bridge

The Loes River (Portuguese: Ribeira de Lois or Rio Lois, Tetum: Mota Lois) is the longest river in Timor-Leste with a total length of 123 km (76 mi) and one of the few perennial rivers in the country's north.

The river combines with its tributaries to make up Timor-Leste's largest river system, and its catchment or drainage basin extends into the province of East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia.

The river and tributaries drain from the central mountains of Timor in a generally northeasterly direction into Ombai Strait. However, the river itself flows in a northwesterly direction, along the border between Bobonaro and Liquiçá municipalities in Timor-Leste.