Khmer Angkor Driver>> Tonle Sap Lake

Tonle Sap Lake

Tonle Sap great lake is the largest freshwater lake in the Southeast Asia and supplies life to one ofAsia's largest rice bowls. Its existence revolves around seasonal cycles:  in the dry season, it is a shallow lake with a surface of 3500 square kilometers. When the monsoon begins, (in June / July) the swollen waters of Mekong River forces the Tonle Sap River, to reverse its flow northwards, feeding the Great Lake and spreading over the surrounding flood plain. In September, the height of monsoon, the lake swells to ten times its size, covering an area of approximately 12 000 square kilometers with a maximum depth ranging from 8 to 10 meters. Interestingly, it is on the northwestern shore of the lake, surrounded by strategic hills, that the ancient Khmer kings established their capital from early 9th to the 15th century. The Tonle Sap Lake was designated as Multiple-Use Protected area by the Royal Degree in November 1993, after which the Lake was successfully nominated as Biosphere Reserve in October 1997 under Man and Biosphere Reserve Program of UNESCO the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve aims to fulfill three complementary functions: conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, and species diversity, culturally, socially, and ecologically sustainable development; and research, monitoring and education. Today, we can visit the beautiful everyday life of the people who live in their floating village and the fish, crocodile farm or floating market. Beside the people, we can visit the bird's sanctuary at Prek Toal and mangroves at Kompong Plug or Kompong khleang. At that place, we can see many houses which built of woods with stilts.

Biodiversity

The variety of inter-connected streams, lakes, flooded plan, and wetland vegetation, together with unique hydrological regime of the Great Lake, support a rich biological diversity such as aquatic plans, fish, waterfowls, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and microorganisms.

Nearly two thirds of the lake flood plan at the medium flooding level is covered by aquatic plant community, listing more than 190 plants’ species. The wetland forest plays a vital role in sustaining the natural reproduction of biological resources, which interact as a giant food chain.

More than 200 fish species are found in the lake, of which 70 are of commercial value. The fish catch from the lake is accounted for 60% of the total freshwater fish production. At the present, there is concern about the fish stock decline, indicated by the depletion of several large fish species, large proportion of small fish per catch sample, and decreased fish catch per gear.

The abundant food, coupled with diversified wetland habitats, provide an excellent living condition for many water birds species. Surveys reveal more than hundred bird species, of which a dozen is considered as of international importance.

Tonle Sap Lake is also a home to a number of reptile and mammal species, 23 snake species, 13 turtle species, a crocodile species, macaque, capped languor, leopard cat; otter are also found in the inundated forest of the Tonle Sap.

Floating Community 

The rich natural resources of Tonle Sap Lake are the primary reason for the community to be settled within the inundated area. Most of the floating villages were established thousand years ago probably due to their fishing and fishery-related activities. Since then, their traditional way of life does not change too much, and still fishing is the major source of income for the majority of the villagers. Addition source of income included fish processing, fish cage culture, crocodile and snake farming, duck raising, firewood collection, wildlife hunting, reed and rattan collection and small scale-agricultures.

Ecotourism 

- Wilderness and untouched beauty of wetland vegetation,

- Watching small and big water birds,

- Relaxed paddle boats trips inside pristine flooded forest,

- Learning about the culture and tradition of the floating villagers,

The Attractive photos