Tonlé Sap lake

Tonlé Sap is the biggest lake in Southeast Asia, it receives water from the Mekong itself and from several other rivers.
It is the main water and food resource for the whole Cambodia.
The Tonlé Sap with its biodiversity one of the most productive fisheries in the world, supporting over 3 million people and providing over 75% of Cambodia’s annual inland fish catch.

Tonlé Sap’s flow changes direction twice a year and because the portion that forms the lake expands and shrinks dramatically with the seasons.
From November to May, Cambodia’s dry season, the Tonlé Sap drains into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. In June, however, when the year’s heavy rains begin, the Tonlé Sap backs up to form an enormous lake.
On the way from Angkor to Battambang (yes, I had the good idea to travel on the lake) the engine of our small boat decided to stop and so after several hours another boat came and dragged us to our destination. You must always take into account this kind of things.

Posted on October 26, 2001

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