The Sangkhae - Sangker River Battambang Province Tonle Sap fresh water lake ( richest fishing lake in the World ) drains into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. The local Cambodian population has also adapted to the unique ecology of the lake with floating ( fishermen -fishery ) villages and stilted houses.


The Sangkhae River ( Stung Sangkae - Sangké) Battambang Province Cambodia. The Sangker River 250 kilometres 160 mi long] It flows through 6 districts and 27 communes in Battambang province before draining into The Tonle Sap Lake. The Tonle Sap is a unique ecological hotspot. Its flow changes direction twice per year, and the lake itself expands and shrinks by four times its size with the changing seasons. In the dry season, the Tonle Sap drains into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. And when the monsoon rains begin in June, the Tonle Sap grows from approximately of 2,700 square km to 16,000 square km ! This provides a perfect breeding ground for fish and birds ( UNESCO Biosphere ) It is one of the most productive fishing lakes in the World, supporting 3 million people and providing over 75% of Cambodia’s annual inland fish catch and 60% of Cambodians’ protein intake. The colossal floodplains host ‘flooded forests’ which spend much of the year under meters of water with only their top branches visible. The local population has also adapted to the unique ecology of the lake with floating villages and stilted houses.


Size: 6000px × 4000px
Photo credit: © Peter Horree / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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