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TONLE SAP
LAKE
Tonle Sap Lake (the Great Lake) is situated in the middle of the
country, Cambodia's Great Lake, is one of the most unique
geographical wonders of the world. The extraordinary biodiversity
and hydrology of the Tonle Sap Lake and the Tonle Sap River make it
a remarkable ecological wonder of the world. |
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The
Tonle Sap is 160 km in length, and 36 km in width. During the dry
season, the Tonle Sap has a size of 3000km2 with a depth of 1 m.
During the wet season, it has a size of 10000 km2 with a depth of
12m. The Tonle Sap has abundant supplies of fresh water fish.
For centuries the Great Lake people have been able to catch 10 tons
of fish per square kilometer and provide the major source of Khmer
sustenance. Moreover, for astute bird?watcher, the aquatic habitats
attract thousand of birds and fish?eating waterfowl, which flock to
the wetlands before the rain begins in June.
Species
inhabiting the Lake include carp, catfish (weighing up to 135kg),
mussel, herring, climbing perch and gourami.
On
the banks of the mighty Great Lake and Mekong Rivers, people have
celebrated for over two hundred years the clanging of the Rivers
flow. During the rainy season the Tonle Sap River reverses its
direction, flooding the lake, increasing its size almost tenfold,
making it the largest freshwater body in Southeast Asia.
During
the flood season, water engulfs the surrounding forest, regulating
agricultural production by ensuring that the countryside is covered
with fresh, fertile silt for rice cultivation.
The combination of soil fertility and the abundance of silt in the
Mekong River, makes agriculture in Cambodia an important and high
yielding activity.
Tonle
Sap's natural wonder offers visitors insights into the centuries?old
traditions of riparian life and the natural splendor of the country.
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