Tonle Sap
The Tonle Sap is a combined lake and river system of great importance to Cambodia. It is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia.
For most of the year the lake is around one meter deep, with an area of 2,700 square km. During the monsoon season, however, the Tonle Sap River, which connects the lake with the Mekong River, reverses its flow. Water is pushed up from the Mekong into the lake, increasing its area to 16,000 square km and its depth to up to nine meters, flooding nearby fields and forests. The floodplain provides a perfect breeding ground for fish.
The system with the large floodplain, rich biodiversity, and high annual sediment and nutrient fluxes from Mekong makes the Tonle Sap one of the most productive inland fisheries in the world, supporting over 3 million people and providing over 75% of Cambodia's annual inland fish catch and 60% of the Cambodians' protein intake. At the end of the rainy season, the flow reverses and the fish are carried downriver.
May 7, 2007 6:56 AM | Category: Lake