Geography of Cambodia

Southeast Asian nation of Cambodia is located on the Indochina Peninsula. The majority of Cambodia is made up of plains and huge rivers, and it is situated along significant overland and river trade routes that connect China to India and Southeast Asia. The capital, Phnom Penh, one of the few metropolitan centres in the otherwise agricultural nation, exhibits the influences of various Asian cultures as well as those of France and the United States.

The low-lying Central Plain, which comprises the Tonlé Sap basin, the lower Mekong River floodplains, and the Bassac River plain, are the principal geographical features of Cambodia. To the north, east, south, and west are mountain ranges. Southeast of the central lowlands border Vietnam.

Physical Features

Cambodia is bordered to the west and northwest by Thailand, to the northeast by Laos, to the east and southeast by Vietnam, and to the southwest by the Gulf of Thailand. It is roughly one-third the size of France and slightly larger than the U.S. state of Missouri. The longest and widest points of the nation are roughly 280 miles (450 km) north to south and 360 miles (580 km) east to west. The overall area of Cambodia is roughly 181,035 km2 (69,898 sq. mi). The entirety of the nation is located inside the tropical Indo-Malaysian region.

The Tonle Sap (Great Lake) and the higher portions of the Mekong River delta are located in Cambodia's low-lying middle alluvial plain, which is flanked by uplands and low mountains in the landscape. Transitional plains, which are sparsely vegetated and rise to altitudes of about 650 feet (200 meters) above sea level, extend away from this center region. The sandstone escarpment that borders the Cambodian plain to the north creates a cliff that faces south.

The Dângrêk Mountains' southern boundary is marked by this escarpment (Dângrêk Mountains in Khmer). The Mekong River traverses the eastern parts of the nation as it flows south. The eastern highlands, which are a region of forested mountains and high plateaus that stretch into Laos and Vietnam, gradually converge with the transitional plains east of the Mekong.

Another highland region that occupies a significant portion of the territory between the Tonle Sap and the Gulf of Thailand is formed in southwest Cambodia by two different upland blocks, the Krâvanh (Cardamom) Mountains and the Dâmrei (Elephant) Mountains. The tallest mountain in Cambodia, Mount Aôral, rises to a height of 5,949 feet (1,813 meters) in this remote and largely unpopulated region. The southwestern highlands separate the southern coastal region, which borders the Gulf of Thailand, from the central plain. It is a thin lowland strip that is densely forested and scarcely populated.

Climate

Two major seasons are determined by the monsoon winds, which also influence Cambodia's climate. The powerful southwest monsoon winds, which blow from mid-May to early October, bring heavy rainfall and severe humidity. The northeast monsoon brings changeable cloud cover, intermittent precipitation, and decreased humidity from early November to mid-March. There is a change in the climate between these seasons.

The warmest month of the year, January, has maximum temperatures that range from 82 to 83 °F (28 °C) to 95 °F (35 °C) in April. The amount of precipitation that falls each year varies greatly across the nation, ranging from more than 200 inches on the seaward slopes of the southwestern highlands to roughly 50–55 inches in the middle lowland area. The southwest monsoon months account for three-fourths of the annual rainfall.

Flora And Fauna

The central lowland region of Cambodia is covered in rice paddies, fields of dry crops like corn (maize) and tobacco, stretches of tall grass and reeds, and sparsely wooded areas, despite the fact that much of the country is highly forested. The transitional plains are mostly made up of savanna grassland. Grass and deciduous trees grow on the high plateaus of the eastern highlands. The northern mountainous regions are covered in broad-leaved evergreen woods.

Open pine woods can be found in the southwestern highlands at higher altitudes, while virgin rainforests cover the rain-drenched seaward slopes. Along the coastal strip, there is a variety of vegetation, from dense mangroves to evergreen forests.

Similar to the surrounding regions of Laos and Vietnam, the north-eastern forests of Cambodia once supported substantial populations of wild animals like elephants, wild oxen, rhinoceroses, and various species of deer. However, the loss of forest cover, coupled with conflict and unrestricted hunting in the area, drastically reduced those populations.

There are still some small populations of the most of these species, as well as a few tigers, leopards, bears, and several small mammals. Herons, cranes, grouse, pheasants, peafowl, pelicans, cormorants, egrets, and wild ducks are a few of the more prevalent birds. The Russell's viper, the Indian cobra, the king cobra, and the banded krait are the four snake species that are the most dangerous.

Drainage

The Mekong River and the Tonle Sap are Cambodia's two main hydrological characteristics. The Mekong enters Cambodia from Laos at the Khone Falls and runs generally southward to the border with Vietnam, a distance of about 315 miles (510 km) within Cambodia. The Mekong originates in the Tibetan Plateau and empties into the South China Sea.

The Sab River links the Tonle Sap with the Mekong. An enormous amount of water from the Mekong backs up into the Sab and flows up into the Tonle Sap 65 miles (105 km) to the northwest during the rainy season (mid-May to early October), increasing the lake's surface area from a minimum of 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the dry season to a maximum of more than 3,000 square miles (7,800 square km).

The process is reversed during the dry season when the Mekong's water level drops: water drains back down from the Tonle Sap into the Mekong, changing the flow. The Tonle Sap is one of the richest sources of freshwater fish in the world as a result of this yearly phenomena.

Soils

The majority of Cambodia's soils are nutrient-poor sands. However, commercial crops like cotton and rubber can be grown in the so-called red-soil regions in the country's eastern region. The Mekong River floods every year during the rainy season, depositing a rich alluvial material that contributes to the central plain's fertility and acts as a natural irrigation system for rice farming.

Conclusion

Geographically, Cambodia has a wide variety of traits. The Tonle Sap basin and the floodplains of the Mekong River are part of the country's central plain, which dominates its topography. Mountain ranges, notably the Dângrêk and Cardamom Mountains, surround it. Monsoon winds have an impact on Cambodia's climate, which has a distinct wet season from mid-May to early October and a dry season from November to March.

The flora and fauna of the country varies by region, with mangroves, grasslands, and woods supporting a wide range of wildlife. Important hydrological components, the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake enhance the environment and provide a haven for a variety of freshwater fish. The majority of Cambodia's soils are nutrient-deficient sands, but the Mekong River's yearly floods provide essential alluvial resources for the growth of productive rice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries are Cambodia's neighbours?

Cambodia is bordered by Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and the Gulf of Thailand.

What are the major geographical features of Cambodia?

Cambodia's central lowland, mountain ranges, including the Dângrêk and Cardamom Mountains, and the Mekong River are its key geographical features.

How is Cambodia's climate?

Cambodia has distinct wet and dry seasons influenced by monsoon winds. The wet season lasts from mid-May to early October, and the dry season is from November to March.

Which River in Cambodia changes its flow direction?

The Tonle Sap Lake is a significant hydrological feature in Cambodia, known for its unique phenomenon of changing water flow direction between wet and dry seasons.

What is the importance of the Mekong River for Cambodia?

The Mekong River is crucial for Cambodia's water supply and supports fertile lands through annual floods, facilitating rice cultivation and freshwater fish production.

What type of wildlife can be found in Cambodia?

Cambodia's varied landscapes host a range of wildlife, including elephants, wild oxen, deer, tigers, leopards, bears, birds, and various snake species.