Life of Lake Tonle Sap

The largest lake in Southeast Asia is in Cambodia and is called Tonle Sap, which means Big Fresh Water. The lake is not simple, but magical. The fact is that the area of the lake varies depending on the season: in the dry season the lake decreases and occupies only three to four thousand square kilometers, and in the rainy season the lake spills and its area increases several times, reaching fifteen or even sixteen thousand square kilometers.

This happens because of the river, which is also called, like the lake, Tonle Sap, and which connects the lake and the main waterway of all Southeast Asia, the Mekong River, the source of which is located in distant Tibet. The Tonle Sap River changes direction twice a year: it usually flows from the lake to the Mekong, but during the rainy season, when the Himalayan glaciers begin to melt, it turns and flows from the Mekong to the lake. There are several holidays associated with this river in Cambodia, and a Russian guide will tell you about them.

And on the shores of the lake people have long settled. Gradually, they became so accustomed to the annual floods of the lake that they began to build houses on high - up to eight meters - stilts, and some of them - either the laziest or the most intelligent - decided to move to the lake and built themselves floating houses. Since then, their whole lives have been connected with Tonle Sap Lake: they are born and die here, the lake gives them food and water, their guardian spirits live in the lake. However, the life of the inhabitants of floating villages is still similar to ours, with the only difference that instead of solid land around the ever-moving water. An excursion to the lake is a fascinating journey to another world. An experienced guide in Cambodia will tell you about the customs and traditions of the locals, you will make amazing photos that will remind you of the magical Tonle Sap Lake for a long time.