Tonle Sap in Both Seasons
Boeung
Tonle Sap (Tonle Sap Lake or Great Lake) locates in Cambodia as the heart of
country and as the largest fresh water lake in South East Asia (SEA). This lake
has been so long supporting local people since the early era of human history,
especially playing very important role in supporting Khmer people in Angkor
Empire as seen on the sculpture wall of Bayon Temple. There are 5 provinces
surrounding this lake include Battambang, Siem Reap, Pursat, Kompong Thom and
Kompong Chhnang as Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve including 4 more provinces such
as Banteay Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Vihear and Otdar Meanchey. Being designated
as UNESCO Biosphere in 1997, the total area size of this lake is around 3,000
square kilometers (from 0.8 meters to 2 meters depth) shaping like violin in
drying season (from November to April) and over 10,000 square kilometers (from
10 meters to 15 meters depth) looking like small inland sea in raining season
(from May to October). The most special condition of Boeung Tonle Sap is the
reversing water flow direction with two seasons rarely seen in the world. In
raining season, water flow from Mekong River to Boeung Tonle Sap expanding lake
size over nearer provinces including inundated forest & rice field and flow
back from Boeung Tonle Sap to Mekong River & Bassac River in drying season.
Being rich in biodiversity, annual big flow-in sediments, and large floodplain,
Tonle Sap Lake provides the good breeding ground for fish being one of the most
productive fisheries in the world and contributing to Cambodia as over 75% of
Cambodia’s annual inland fish catch and 60% of Cambodian’s protein intake
according to Wikipedia. Noticeably, in 1960s the productivity of fish from
Boeung Tonle Sap was ten tons per square kilometer (10 tons / km2)
making it the most famous productive fisheries lake in the world. Many kinds of
fish could be found in Boeung Tonle Sap from small to largest fresh water fish.
For example, being rare nowadays, Kul Raing fish is the largest fresh water
fish with weight hundreds of kilograms found in Boeung Tonle Sap. Not only
fisheries production, Boeung Tonle Sap is also a good source of natural water
basin for supporting irrigation system in surrounding area, especially Angkor
City. Thousand of years, people living here use water from this lake to support
daily life building the Great Empire in Mainland SEA, Angkor of Khmer Empire.
Besides, Tonle Sap Lake has been the most interesting place for tourism in
Cambodia for natural scene. Many tourism sites was created to welcome all
tourists around the world like Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary (Battambang), Ang
Trapeang Thmar Sarus Crane Reserve (Banteay Meanchey), Chong Khneas Floating
Village (Siem Reap), Kompong Phluk Three Cluster Villages with Mangrove Forest
(Siem Reap), Kompong Khleang Economic based Fishing Villages with flooded
forest (Siem Reap), Boeung Tonle Chhmar (Small Lake in drying season of Kompong
Thom), Kampong Prak Fishing Village (Pursat), etc. All tourism sites have local
services for all tourists hiring local people with their boats visiting Tonle
Sap Lake and inundated forest, especially Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary in
Battambang. Finally, Boeung Tonle Sap truly represents the life of people,
biodiversity, water, and green environment of Cambodia. “Value the nature,
visiting Tonle Sap Lake!” “Smiling of local people will welcome all tourists from
all around the world!”
By:
POK Panhavuth
Tonle Sap Lake View with Local Boat
Fish Sculpture on the Wall of Bayon Temple
Video on Tonle Sap Lake
Video on Somros Prek Toal
