Tonle Sap Lake Size report

Tonle Sap Lake, also known as Phnom Penh Lake, is located in the western part of Cambodia. It is long in the heart of Cambodia and is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. The lakeside plain is flat and wide across Cambodia, where the Tonle Sap River joins the Mekong River that runs through Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

Tonle Sap is a natural reservoir of the Mekong River. During the dry season every year, the lake water flows into the Mekong River through the Tonle Sap River, making up for the lack of water in the Mekong River. Whenever the rainy season comes, and the Mekong River swells, the turbulent water flows back into the lake through the Tonle Sap River, thereby reducing the flooding in the lower reaches of the Mekong River.

Tonle Sap Lake is like a huge green emerald, inlaid on the land of Cambodia, providing a solid resource guarantee for the development and prosperity of the Khmer nation. It is the "Source of Life" for the Cambodian people. This post will share more interesting facts about Tonle Sap Lake.

Introduction of Tonle Sap Lake

Tonle Sap Lake is a natural flood storage reservoir in the central plains of Cambodia. There are many tributaries with highly variable flow and two rivers, Sreng and Sen, from the north that drain into the lake. During the dry season, the lake flows southeast to the Mekong River via the Tonle Sap River (130 km long). During the rainy season, from June to November, the high water of the Mekong River flows back into the Tonle Sap River, which increases the basin area of the Tonle Sap from about 2,700 square kilometers to about 10,360 square kilometers. The lake's width increases from about 35 kilometers to 105 kilometers, and the rising water level supports ships with a draft of 3 meters to reach cities along the tributaries, such as Kampong Thum, Diemreab, Battambang, and Pouthisat.

For Cambodians, Tonle Sap Lake is their mother lake. This largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, located on the country's western border, has given birth to many big cities along the coast, including the ancient capital Siem Reap, the second-largest city Battambang, and Bodhisattva. The Khmer civilization came from this large lake, which brought sufficient water and nutrition to the rice fields and provided a large amount of seafood for Cambodians.

Tonle Sap Lake Size

Located in Siem Reap, the massive lake is 250 km in length and 100 km across at its widest point, making it seem like an inland ocean because it is impossible to see the opposite shore from ground level. Surprisingly, it's fairly shallow, with a maximum depth of only 10 meters. The climate of Tonle Sap Lake is warm and humid, and the annual precipitation is enough to meet the needs of people and the growth of animals and plants. The area and water level of the lake vary significantly due to the obvious dry and rainy seasons.

Tonle Sap floating villages

Tonle Sap Lake is famous for its fascinating local communities and floating villages. Along the Tonle Sap River, you can see many stilted boathouses built on the water, most of which are made of thatch, wood, and iron. Although the house is simple in shape, it is fully functional, with schools, shops, and even a hospital. As the water levels change during the dry and rainy seasons, they migrate 5-6 times a year.

Natural Resouces

Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, also has one of the world’s most vibrant ecosystems. There are different species of wildlife in and around the lake, which helped to sustain and grow the ancient Khmer civilisation. Because of the nutrients brought by the alluvial substances in the water of the Mekong River, a large number of fish and shrimps breed in the lake, which are abundant in both dry and rainy seasons. The lake supplies many aquatic fishing villages engaged in extensive carp rearing and fishing. Fermented and salted fish is a staple food for Cambodians. More than three million people depend directly or indirectly on fishing for their livelihoods.

Final Words

Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and has one of the world's most vibrant ecosystems. There are different species of wildlife in and around the lake, which helped to sustain and grow the ancient Khmer civilization. Because of the nutrients brought by the alluvial substances in the Mekong River's water, many fish and shrimps breed in the lake, which is abundant in both dry and rainy seasons. The lake supplies many aquatic fishing villages engaged in extensive carp rearing and fishing. Fermented and salted fish is a staple food for Cambodians. More than three million people depend directly or indirectly on fishing for their livelihoods.