description Tonle Sap Overview
Tonle Sap in Cambodia is Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake, which expands dramatically from about 2,500 to 16,000 sq km during the monsoon season and supports one of the world's most productive inland fisheries.
insights Ranking position
Tonle Sap ranks #12 of 108 in the Swamp ranking, behind Sudd, ahead of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
help Tonle Sap FAQ
Why does the Tonle Sap River reverse direction?
During the monsoon, the swollen Mekong raises water levels near Phnom Penh and pushes water northwest through the Tonle Sap River into the lake. As the Mekong falls later in the year, the current reverses again and the lake drains toward the Mekong.
How much larger does Tonle Sap become in the rainy season?
UNESCO describes the lake as expanding by as much as five times during the annual flood cycle. Water spreads into forests and floodplains that become major feeding and nursery areas for fish.
Are Tonle Sap's floating villages really floating year-round?
Some communities use floating houses that rise and move with the water, while others have extremely tall stilt houses fixed to the lakebed or floodplain. Chong Kneas, Kampong Phluk, and Kampong Khleang therefore offer different settlement forms.
Why is Tonle Sap so important to Cambodia's fish supply?
The flood pulse links the lake to the Mekong and opens a vast seasonal habitat where fish feed and reproduce. UNESCO identifies Tonle Sap as one of the world's major inland fishery production areas and a livelihood base for millions of people.
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