Geography of Cambodia

Geography of Cambodia
ContinentAsia
RegionSoutheast Asia
Coordinates13°00′N 105°00′E / 13.000°N 105.000°E / 13.000; 105.000
AreaRanked 88th
 • Total181,035 km2 (69,898 sq mi)
 • Land97.50%
 • Water2.50%
Coastline443 km (275 mi)
Borders2,530 km (1,572 mi)
Laos 555 km (345 mi)
Thailand 817 km (508 mi)
Vietnam 1,158 km (720 mi)
Highest pointPhnom Aural
1,813 m (5,948 ft)
Lowest pointGulf of Thailand
0 m (0 ft)
Longest riverMekong river
500 km (311 mi)
Largest lakeTonlé Sap
16,000 km2 (6,178 sq mi)
Topography of Cambodia

Cambodia is a country in mainland Southeast Asia. It borders Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, the Gulf of Thailand and covers a total area of approximately 181,035 km2 (69,898 sq mi). The country is situated in its entirety inside the tropical Indomalayan realm[1] and the Indochina Time zone (ICT).[2][3]

Cambodia's main geographical features are the low lying Central Plain that includes the Tonlé Sap basin, the lower Mekong River flood-plains and the Bassac River plain surrounded by mountain ranges to the north, east, in the south-west and south. The central lowlands extend into Vietnam to the south-east. The south and south-west of the country constitute a 443 km (275 mi) long coast at the Gulf of Thailand, characterized by sizable mangrove marshes, peninsulas, sandy beaches and headlands and bays. Cambodia's territorial waters account for over 50 islands. The highest peak is Phnom Aural, sitting 1,810 metres (5,938 ft) above sea level.[4][5][6]

The landmass is bisected by the Mekong River, which at 486 km (302 mi) is the longest river in Cambodia. After extensive rapids, turbulent sections and cataracts in Laos, the river enters the country at Stung Treng province, is predominantly calm and navigable during the entire year as it widens considerably in the lowlands. The Mekong's waters disperse into the surrounding wetlands of central Cambodia and strongly affect the seasonal nature of the Tonlé Sap lake.[7][8]

Two third of the country's population live in the lowlands, where the rich sediment deposited during the Mekong's annual flooding makes the agricultural lands highly fertile. As deforestation and over-exploitation affected Cambodia only in recent decades, forests, low mountain ranges and local eco-regions still retain much of their natural potential and although still home to the largest areas of contiguous and intact forests in mainland Southeast Asia, multiple serious environmental issues persist and accumulate, which are closely related to rapid population growth, uncontrolled globalization and inconsequential administration.[9][10][11][12][13]

The majority of the country lies within the Tropical savanna climate zone, as the coastal areas in the South and West receive noticeably more and steady rain before and during the wet season. These areas constitute the easternmost fringes of the south-west monsoon, determined to be inside the Tropical monsoon climate. Countrywide there are two seasons of relatively equal length, defined by varying precipitation as temperatures and humidity are generally high and steady throughout the entire year.[14]

  1. ^ "Land and Resource of Cambodia". Ministry of Rural Development. January 26, 2009. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  2. ^ "ICT – Indochina Time (Standard Time)". Time and Date AS. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  3. ^ "GEOGRAPHY". The Royal Embassy of Cambodia. Archived from the original on 2009-09-14. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  4. ^ "Cambodia Study Area" (PDF). Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific(RRC.AP). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved May 13, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Cambodia Environment Outlook - NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES - Geography and Climate" (PDF). United Nations Environment Programme. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-27. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  6. ^ "Cambodia". Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  7. ^ "Information Resources - Southern Part". Mekong River Commission. May 11, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-05-12. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  8. ^ "World Geographical Dictionary On Cambodia six distinct terrestrial eco-regions in Cambodia have been recognized" (PDF). Water Hazard and Risk management. May 31, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  9. ^ "Rain Forests of the World". Lizas Reef. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  10. ^ "Environmental issues in Cambodia". Rainforests Mongabay. August 15, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  11. ^ "Officials Unable to Explain Mystery Ships". The Cambodia Daily. November 6, 2015. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  12. ^ "Conservation activists arrested in Koh Kong". Phnom Penh Post. August 18, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  13. ^ "In Cambodia, quality wood makes for murder". CBSNews. November 13, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  14. ^ Climate and Weather. Tourism of Cambodia. Retrieved May 18, 2015.