Look at a map of Southeast Asia, and you will find a long, narrow island called Timor. The western half belongs to Indonesia. The eastern half is its own country: Timor-Leste, also called East Timor. On May 20, 2002, Timor-Leste became independent -- the first new country of the twenty-first century. The road to independence was long and difficult. For over 400 years, Portugal controlled East Timor as a colony. When Portugal left in 1975, the neighboring country of Indonesia invaded and took control. The people of East Timor fought for their freedom for nearly 25 years. In 1999, the United Nations held a vote. The people overwhelmingly chose independence. More than 78 percent voted to become their own country. But violence broke out before the transition was complete. International peacekeepers arrived to restore order. Timor-Leste is one of the smallest countries in Asia. It is about the size of Connecticut. The country is mountainous, with peaks rising over 9,000 feet. Most people live along the coast. Coffee is the most valuable export, grown in the highlands. Despite its small size, Timor-Leste sits on significant oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea, which are critical to its economy.