[2][3] The mythical ancestors of today's municipal population were known as Lauteinu or Lauteira.

The borders of the municipality of Lautém are identical to those of the council of the same name in Portuguese Timor.

Lautém has beautiful sand beaches and a wild, mountainous, and raw rugged unspoilt landscape.

Numerous stone sarcophagi and animistic shrines are found throughout the district.

There is also a fossilized lagoon called Lua Ira, known among locals for its crystal-clear, blue-green waters.