Map of Cambodia
Cambodia is a country in Asia with its capital at Phnom Penh, home to about 17.85 million people across 181,035 km². The interactive map below plots 19 cities and towns, 7 rivers, 1 lakes, 1 mountain summits and 2 ports recorded for Cambodia in YearMaps.
- Population
- 17.85 million
- Area
- 181,035 km²
- Capital
- Phnom Penh
- Continent
- Asia
Interactive Map of Cambodia
Centred on Phnom Penh at 11.5520° N, 104.9147° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
Great Monument of Cambodia
Angkor Wat is marked on the map above. Click a pin or use "Show on map" to fly to it.
Angkor Wat
Khmer Empire (Suryavarman II) · High Middle Ages
Angkor Wat (; Khmer: អង្គរវត្ត, 'City/Capital of Temples') is a Theravada Buddhist temple complex, originally built as a Vaishnava Hindu temple, in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is the largest religious complex in the world. Located on a site measuring 162.6 hectares (1.6 km2; 401.8 acres) within the medieval capital of Angkor, it was constructed between 1113 and 1150 CE during the reign of the Khmer king Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu. From the late 13th century onward, the complex was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple as Khmer kings adopted Buddhism. Angkor Wat has remained a Buddhist monastery and an active center of Buddhist worship into the present day. It is noted for its monumental scale, extensive bas-reliefs, and an architectural unity characteristic of Khmer architecture. Unlike most Angkorian temples, it is oriented toward the west. It is a symbol of Cambodia and appears on the Cambodian national flag.
The temple was commissioned by Suryavarman II in Yaśodharapura, the capital of the Khmer Empire, as a state temple and is generally considered to have been intended as his mausoleum. Its architectural design combines the temple-mountain and galleried temple forms characteristic of Khmer architecture. The overall layout is commonly interpreted as a symbolic representation of Mount Meru, a cosmological concept shared by both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The complex is surrounded by a broad moat and enclosed by an outer wall, within which three progressively elevated galleries rise toward a central quincunx of towers.
From the late 13th century onward, Angkor Wat became predominantly associated with Theravāda Buddhism. It was adapted for Buddhist worship and has remained in continuous religious use, a factor that contributed to its preservation and survival as a major religious, cultural, and national symbol of Cambodia.
The temple complex fell into disuse before restoration work began on it in the 20th century, with various international agencies involved in the project. Restoration was coordinated by the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC-Angkor), established in 1993 under UNESCO. Major contributors included France (via the École française d'Extrême-Orient), Japan (JASA), India (Archaeological Survey of India), Germany (GACP), the United States (World Monuments Fund), South Korea, China, and Italy.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Angkor Wat (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Built by
- Khmer Empire (Suryavarman II)
- Built
- 1150 CE
- Era
- High Middle Ages
- Type
- Temple Complex
- Status
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Coordinates
- 13.4125° N, 103.8670° E
Architectural Significance
Concentric sandstone galleries and lotus-bud towers oriented precisely to the spring equinox sunrise, supported by an advanced hydraulic canal and reservoir network.
Photos of Angkor Wat
Marcin Konsek · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Leon petrosyan · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Charles J Sharp · CC BY 2.5
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History & architecture of Angkor Wat
History
Angkor Wat was commissioned by the Khmer king Suryavarman II (ruled 1113–c. 1150) in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire. The construction of the temple commenced in 1122 CE and was completed in 1150 CE. The temple complex was constructed on the suggestion of Divākarapaṇḍita (1040–c. 1120). The temple was dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu and the original religious motifs were derived from Hinduism. It was built as the king's state temple in the capital city. Historians have often thought that Angkor Wat served as a “temple-city,” but modern analyses of the site suggest that it housed a population of between 3,000 and 4,300 residents. As there are no foundation stela or any contemporary inscriptions referring to the temple's name that have been found, its original name is unknown and it may have been known as Vrah Viṣṇuloka after the presiding deity. The work on the temple ceased after the king's death, leaving some of the bas-relief decoration unfinished.
In 1178, approximately 27 years after the death of Suryavarman II, Angkor was sacked by the Chams, the traditional enemies of the Khmer. Thereafter, the Khmer empire was restored by Jayavarman VII, who established a new capital at Angkor Thom and the Bayon as the state temple, situated to the north. The temple was dedicated to Buddhism as the king's wife Indradevi was a devout Mahayana Buddhist who encouraged him to convert. Angkor Wat was therefore also gradually converted into a Buddhist site with many Hindu sculptures replaced by Buddhist art.
After the transformation from a Hindu centre of worship to Buddhism towards the end of the 12th century, Angkor Wat has continued to serve as a Buddhist centre until the present day. Historical records show that Chinese envoy Zhou Daguan and traveller Zheng He visited the Angkor Wat in the 13–14th centuries. Zheng He studied the temple architecture which was later incorporated in the Dabaoen Temple and Glazed Pagoda. Archaeologists have also theorized that Angkor Wat was used as a defensive fortification during this period, with gateway blockages and holes in the outer wall potentially implying the presence of a defensive structure. It is thought that these fortifications would have been constructed alongside the fortifications to the Khmer capital, Angkor Thom, in response to the encroaching threat of the Ayutthaya Empire. After the Khmer empire's fall to the Ayutthaya in 1431, Angkor Wat continued to be inhabited, with dating showing regular maintenance of the site's ponds during this period. Angkor Wat is unusual among the Angkor temples in that although it was largely neglected after the 16th century, it was never completely abandoned. Fourteen inscriptions dated from the 17th century, discovered in the Angkor area, state that Japanese Buddhist pilgrims had established small settlements alongside Khmer locals. The inscription also tells of Ukondayu Kazufusa, who celebrated the Khmer New Year at Angkor Wat in 1632. Modifications of the temple also occurred in the 17th century, with findings suggesting the demolition of several towers in the mid-1600s.
Architecture
Angkor Wat is a Buddhist temple complex. Located on a site measuring 162.6 ha (1,626,000 m2; 402 acres) within the ancient Khmer capital city of Angkor, it is considered as the largest religious structure in the world by Guinness World Records.
Angkor Wat is a unique combination of the temple mountain (the standard design for the empire's state temples) and the later plan of concentric galleries, most of which were originally derived from religious beliefs of Hinduism. Angkor Wat also served a practical purpose for the Khmer Empire as well, with its dam and resulting moats serving as both connections to the Angkor water network and a means of storing water between the monsoon and dry seasons of the region. The construction of Angkor Wat suggests that there was a celestial significance with certain features of the temple. This is observed in the temple's east–west orientation, and lines of sight from terraces within the temple that show specific towers to be at the precise location of the solstice at sunrise. The Angkor Wat temple's main tower aligns with the morning sun of the spring equinox. The temple is a representation of Mount Meru, the home of the gods according to Hindu mythology: the central quincunx of towers symbolise the five peaks of the mountain, and the walls and moat symbolise the surrounding mountain ranges and ocean. Access to the upper areas of the temple was progressively more exclusive, with the laity being admitted only to the lowest level.
Unlike most Khmer temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west rather than the east. This has led scholars including Maurice Glaize and George Coedès to hypothesize that Suryavarman intended it to serve as his funerary temple. Further evidence for this view is provided by the bas-reliefs, which proceed in a counter-clockwise direction—prasavya in Hindu terminology—as this is the reverse of the normal order. Rituals take place in reverse order during Brahminic funeral services. Archaeologist Charles Higham also describes a container that may have been a funerary jar that was recovered from the central tower. Freeman and Jacques, however, note that several other temples of Angkor depart from the typical eastern orientation, and suggest that Angkor Wat's alignment was due to its dedication to Vishnu, who was associated with the west.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Angkor Wat (CC BY-SA 4.0).
About Cambodia
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Mainland Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline along the Gulf of Thailand in the southwest. It spans an area of about 181,035 km2 (69,898 sq mi), dominated by a low-lying plain and the confluence of the Mekong river and Tonlé Sap, Southeast Asia's largest lake. It is dominated by a tropical climate. Cambodia has a population of about 17 million people, the majority of whom are ethnically Khmer. A majority of its population adhere to Buddhism, with Islam and Christianity having a minor presence. Its capital and most populous city is Phnom Penh, followed by Siem Reap and Battambang.
Cambodia has been inhabited for over 5000 years, with its earliest recorded mandala known as Funan. In 802 AD, Jayavarman II declared himself king, uniting the warring Khmer princes of Chenla under the name "Kambuja". Cambodia with this became the centre of power of the Khmer Empire. Over 600 years, the Khmer Empire facilitated the spread of first Hinduism and then Buddhism across Southeast Asia and undertook vast infrastructural projects throughout the region, the most famous of which is Angkor Wat. In the 15th century, Cambodia saw a decline in power and territorial losses to its neighbours. In 1863, it became a French protectorate and later a part of French Indochina. During World War II, Cambodia was occupied by Japan. French rule was then restored until Cambodia secured independence in 1953.
Spillover of the Vietnam War in the 1960s destabilised Cambodia and contributed to internal conflict. The civil war ended with the takeover of the Khmer Rouge regime, which carried out the horrific Cambodian genocide from 1975 to 1979. A Vietnamese intervention and occupation deposed the Khmer Rouge, although insurgencies continued until 1999. By 1993 a United Nations peacekeeping mission had restored Cambodia's monarchy, and established a new democratic constitution with elections. The 1997 coup d'état consolidated power under Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP).
Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy and a de jure multi-party state, although the CPP dominates the political system and rules the country as a de facto one-party state. The UN designates Cambodia as a least developed country, given the persistent socio-economic challenges. Agriculture remains its dominant economic sector, with growth in textiles, construction, garments, and tourism leading to increased foreign investment and international trade.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Cambodia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Cambodia
Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire, ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863, and it became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In 1975, after a seven-year struggle, communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off 13 years of internecine warfare in which a coalition of Khmer Rouge, Cambodian nationalists, and royalist insurgents, with assistance from China, fought the Vietnamese-backed People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK). The 1991 Paris Agreements ended the country’s civil war and mandated democratic elections, which took place in 1993 and ushered in a period of multi-party democracy with a constitutional monarchy. King Norodom SIHANOUK was reinstated as head of state, and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the royalist FUNCINPEC party formed a coalition government. Nevertheless, the power-sharing arrangement proved fractious and fragile, and in 1997, a coup led by CPP leader and former PRK prime minister HUN SEN dissolved the coalition and sidelined FUNCINPEC. Despite further attempts at coalition governance, the CPP has since remained in power through elections criticized for lacking fairness, political and judicial corruption, media control, and influence over labor unions, all of which have been enforced with violence and intimidation. HUN SEN remained as prime minister until 2023, when he transferred power to his son, HUN MANET. HUN SEN has subsequently maintained considerable influence as the leader of the CPP and the Senate. The CPP has also placed limits on civil society, press freedom, and freedom of expression. Despite some economic growth and considerable investment from China over the past decade, Cambodia remains one of East Asia's poorest countries. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in 1999. A UN-backed special tribunal established in Cambodia in 1997 tried some of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity and genocide. The tribunal concluded in 2022 with three convictions.
- Location
- Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.
- Climate
- Tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation.
- Terrain
- Mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north.
- Highest point
- Phnum Aoral 1,810 m.
- Lowest point
- Gulf of Thailand 0 m.
- Coastline
- 443 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 2,530 km; border countries: Laos 555 km; Thailand 817 km; Vietnam 1158 km.
- Major rivers
- Mekong (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth.
- Major lakes
- Fresh water lake(s): Tonle Sap - 2,700-16,000 sq km.
- Natural resources
- Oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential, arable land.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 34.9% (2023 est.); arable land: 23.3% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 8.5% (2023 est.); forest: 39.4% (2023 est.); other: 25.8% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts.
- Geographic note
- A land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap (Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake)
- Languages
- Khmer (official) 95.8%, minority languages 2.9%, Chinese 0.6%, Vietnamese 0.5%, other 0.2% (2019 est.)
- Religions
- Buddhist (official) 97.1%, Muslim 2%, Christian 0.3%, other 0.5% (2019 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Khmer 95.4%, Cham 2.4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 0.7% (2019-20 est.)
- Economy
- One of the fastest growing Southeast Asian economies; rebounding tourism and clothing exports; substantial manufacturing and construction sectors; new trade agreements expanding agricultural markets; significant public debt; investing in new ports and roads.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Cambodia in Numbers
- Population
- 17.85 million
- GDP
- US$51.3 billion
- GDP per person
- US$2,872
- Life expectancy
- 70.8 years
- Population growth
- 1.18% a year
- Population density
- 100 per km²
- Urban population
- 41.1%
- Surface area
- 181,035 km²
- Forest cover
- 37.6%
- Arable land
- 23.3%
- Access to electricity
- 99.2%
- Internet users
- 68.5%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Cambodia in Depth
History
There exists evidence for a Pleistocene human occupation of what later is Cambodia, which includes quartz and quartzite pebble tools found in terraces along the Mekong River, in Stung Treng and Kratié provinces, and in Kampot province. Some archaeological evidence shows communities of hunter-gatherers inhabited the region during the Holocene: the most ancient archaeological discovery site in Cambodia is considered to be the cave of Laang Spean, which belongs to the Hoabinhian period. Excavations in its lower layers produced a series of radiocarbon dates around 6000 BC. Upper layers in the same site gave evidence of transition to Neolithic, containing the earliest dated earthenware ceramics in Cambodia.
Geography
Cambodia has an area of 181,035 km2 (69,898 sq mi) and lies entirely within the tropics, between latitudes 10° and 15°N, and longitudes 102° and 108°E. It borders Thailand to the north and west, Laos to the northeast, and Vietnam to the east and southeast. It has a 443 km (275 mi) coastline along the Gulf of Thailand.
Cambodia's landscape is characterised by a low-lying central plain that is surrounded by uplands and low mountains and includes the Tonle Sap (Great Lake) and the upper reaches of the Mekong River delta. Extending outward from this central region are transitional plains, thinly forested and rising to elevations of about 200 m (650 ft) above sea level.
Economy
Oil and natural gas deposits found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters in 2005 yield potential and remain mostly untapped, due in part to territorial disputes with Thailand.
In 2012, Credit Bureau Cambodia was established with direct regulatory oversight by the National Bank of Cambodia.
Fear of renewed political instability and corruption within the government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid, while there has been aid from bilateral and multilateral donors. Donors pledged US$504 million to the country in 2004, while the Asian Development Bank alone has provided US$850 million in loans, grants, and technical assistance. Bribes are sometimes demanded from companies operating in Cambodia when obtaining licences and permits, such as construction-related permits.
Demographics
The French protectorate of Cambodia conducted its first official census in 1921. Only men aged 20 to 60 were counted, as its purpose was for the collection of taxes. After the 1962 population census was conducted, Cambodia's civil conflicts and instability lead to a 36-year-long gap before the country could have another official census in 1998.
As of 2010, half of the Cambodian population is younger than 22 years old. At a 1.04 female to male ratio, Cambodia has the most female-biased sex ratio in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Among the Cambodian population aged over 65, the female to male ratio is 1.6:1.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Cambodia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Cambodia: Key Facts
| Currency | riel |
|---|---|
| Official language | Khmer |
| Head of state | Norodom Sihamoni |
| Head of government | Hun Manet |
| Form of government | constitutional monarchy |
| Calling code | +855 |
| Internet domain | .kh |
| Highest point | Phnom Aural |
| Lowest point | Gulf of Thailand |
| Established | 9 November 1953 |
Facts from Wikidata Q424 (CC0).
History of Cambodia: Empires and States
The atlas records 12 polities whose mapped territory included part of Cambodia, from Funan in 51 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Funan | 51–640 CE | Most |
| Chenla | 555–717 CE | Nearly all |
| Land Chenla | 718–805 CE | A small part |
| Water Chenla | 718–805 CE | Most |
| The Khmer Empire | 806–1867 CE | Nearly all |
| Rattanakosin Kingdom | 1796–1907 CE | A large part |
| The French Colonial Empire | 1868–1955 CE | Nearly all |
| French Indochina | 1868–1955 CE | Nearly all |
| French Third Republic | 1871–1939 CE | Nearly all |
| French Fourth Republic | 1946–1955 CE | Nearly all |
| Kingdom of Cambodia | 1956–2024 CE | Nearly all |
| People's Republic of Kampuchea | 1979–1995 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Cambodia
Cambodia on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Cambodia
The Kingdom of Cambodia (កម្ពុជា kampuciə) is in Southeast Asia. While the Angkor Wat commemorates Cambodia's glorious history, the country has been ravaged by colonialism, the Indochina Wars, and the Khmer Rouge regime, and remains one of Asia's poorest countries. However, in the 21st century, the country is getting back on its feet, its economy is growing as fast as Vietnam's, and Cambodia has become one of Asia's most popular tourist destinations.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Cambodia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Cambodia
19 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phnom Penh | 1.47 million | Phnom Penh | National capital |
| 2 | Battambang | 154,773 | Batdâmbâng | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | Siem Reap | 109,398 | Siemréab | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | Kampong Cham | 83,233 | Kâmpóng Cham | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Kompong Chhnang | 75,244 | Kâmpóng Chhnang | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Prey Veng | 74,000 | Prey Ving | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Pursat | 52,476 | Pouthisat | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Sisophon | 50,302 | Bântéay Méanchey | Populated place |
| 9 | Kampot | 50,105 | Kâmpôt | Admin-1 capital |
| 10 | Kampong Spoe | 33,231 | Kâmpóng Spœ | Admin-1 capital |
| 11 | Krong Koh Kong | 33,134 | Kaôh Kong | Admin-1 capital |
| 12 | Stoeng Treng | 29,665 | StMng Tr | Admin-1 capital |
| 13 | Phnum Tbeng Meanchey | 24,380 | Preah Vihéar | Admin-1 capital |
| 14 | Svay Rieng | 23,956 | Svay Rieng | Admin-1 capital |
| 15 | Kracheh | 19,975 | Krâchéh | Admin-1 capital |
| 16 | Kampong Thum | 19,951 | Kâmpóng Thum | Admin-1 capital |
| 17 | Lumphat | 19,205 | Rôtânôkiri | Admin-1 capital |
| 18 | Takéo | 15,264 | Tak | Admin-1 capital |
| 19 | Senmonorom | 7,944 | Môndól Kiri | Admin-1 capital |
Highest Mountains in Cambodia
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phnom Aural | 1,813 m | 5,948 ft | Asia |
Phnom Aural
Mountain · 1,813 m
Phnom Aural is a mountain rising to 1,813 metres (5,948 ft) in Cambodia, in the Asia region.
Phnom Aural (Khmer: ភ្នំឱរ៉ាល់ [pʰnom ʔaoral]), also spelled Phnom Aoral, is the tallest peak in Cambodia. It is 1,813 meters tall (other sources give elevations between 1,771 and 1,667 meters).
It is in the eastern part of the Cardamom Mountains.
To protect the biodiversity of the mountains, Phnom Aural Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1993.
This mountain in located in Aoral District, Kampong Speu Province.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Phnom Aural (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 1,813 m (5,948 ft)
- Global rank
- #450 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Asia (#161)
- Country
- Cambodia
- Coordinates
- 12.0509°, 104.1756°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Phnom Aural ranks #450 by elevation, below Morro da Boa Vista (1,827 m) and above Alto de Buey (1,810 m).
- Ranges:
- Dângrêk Range (Asia), Arakan Yoma (Asia)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Ngoc Linh (2,598 m), Myinmoletkat Taung (2,072 m), Khao Luang (1,780 m)
- Settlements below:
- Kompong Chhnang (58 km), Pursat (61 km), Kampong Spoe (76 km)
More about Phnom Aural
Phnom Aural: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 1,744 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Cardamom Mountains |
Facts from Wikidata Q539772 (CC0).
Largest Lakes in Cambodia
1 lake recorded. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonle Sap | 2,547 km² | Lake |
Tonle Sap
Lake · 2,547 km²
Tonle Sap is a lake in Cambodia, with a mapped surface area of about 2,547 km².
Tonle Sap (; Khmer: ទន្លេសាប, Tônlé Sab [tɔnleː saːp]; lit. 'Fresh River' or commonly translated as 'Great Lake') is a lake in central Cambodia. Belonging to the Mekong river system, Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems in the world. It was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1997 due to its high biodiversity. The lake has a large seasonal variation in water depth, with the post-monsoon level sometimes being as much as 10 metres (33 ft) higher than during the monsoons. During the 21st century, the lake and its surrounding ecosystems have come under increasing pressure from deforestation, intensive agriculture and fishery, infrastructure development and climate change.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Tonle Sap (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Surface area
- 2,547 km²
- Area rank
- #79 of 756 indexed
- Type
- Lake
- Country
- Cambodia
- Coordinates
- 13.0392°, 103.9318°
Among the 756 water bodies with a mapped extent in YearMaps, Tonle Sap ranks #79 by surface area, after Lake Frome (2,582 km²) and ahead of Tai Hu (2,509 km²). Areas are computed from the mapped outline and are approximate.
- Settlements on the shore:
- Siem Reap (37 km), Pursat (56 km), Battambang (80 km)
- Other water nearby:
- Danau Toba (1,149 km²), Loktak Lake (136 km²)
More about Tonle Sap
Hydrology
The Tonle Sap drainage basin is bordered to the southwest by the Cardamom Mountains, with heights of more than 1,700 metres (5,600 ft), and to the north are the Piandan Mountains with an average height of 500 metres (1,600 ft). The basin covers an area of 86,000 square kilometres (33,000 sq mi). The 120 kilometres (75 mi)-long Tonle Sap River connects the Tonle Sap Lake with the Mekong River and contributes 9% of the flow of the Mekong.
The size and water volume of the lake varies greatly throughout the year, with a minimum area of about 2,500–3,000 square kilometres (970–1,160 sq mi) and a volume of about 1 cubic kilometre (0.24 mi3) in the dry season, and the water body expands in the rainy season, increasing the depth to 9–14 metres (30–46 ft).
Geology
Tonle Sap Lake is located in the northwest of the lower Mekong plain, formed by the collision and collapse of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. The lower Mekong basin rests on an ancient block of continental crust that has remained relatively stable since the Jurassic Period, a period of over 150 million years. Large areas were covered by an inland sea during the upper Mesozoic Era, during which thick red-bed sandstones and evaporites were deposited. The lower Mekong plain used to be a bay, and the sea level rose rapidly at the end of the last glacial period. About 4.5 metres (15 ft) high, cores from this period found near Angkor contain tidal deposits, as well as salt marshes and mangrove swamp deposits, deposited in caves about 7,900–7,300 years ago.
Ecology
The land cover of the Tonle Sap basin is 55% forest and 45% agricultural land. The lake is surrounded by freshwater mangroves known as "flood forests", accounting for 3% of the basin area, and the floodplain is surrounded by low hills and covered with evergreen or deciduous seasonal tropical forest dominated by species of Dipterocarpaceae, Leguminosae, Lythraceae, Fagaceae and in some places Pinaceae, Podocarpaceae, or bamboo. Farther from the lake, the forest gradually turns into a thicket, and finally into a meadow. In areas with higher quality soils or higher altitudes, deciduous mixed forests and semi-evergreen forests occur.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Tonle Sap (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Tonle Sap: Key Facts
| Surface area | 2,700 km² |
|---|---|
| Maximum depth | 1.5 m |
| Surface elevation | 1.5 m |
| Inflows | Tonle Sap River, Sangkae River, Chinit River, Pursat River |
| Outflows | Tonle Sap River |
Facts from Wikidata Q199938 (CC0).
Rivers in Cambodia
7 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
| Name | Type | Also Flows Through |
|---|---|---|
| Kong | River | Laos, Vietnam |
| Krong | River | Vietnam |
| Mekong | River | Laos, Thailand, Vietnam |
| Sreng | River | — |
| Srepok | River | — |
| Tonle Sap (lake reach) | Lake reach | — |
| Tonle Sap (near Kompong Chhnang) | River | — |
Ports in Cambodia
2 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phsar Ream | 49.4 m | Very Small | South China Sea & Gulf of Thailand | medium vessels |
| 2 | Kampong Saom | 42.1 m | Minor | South China Sea & Gulf of Thailand | medium vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cambodia
5 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angkor | 1992 | Cultural | (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) |
| 2 | Preah Vihear Temple | 2008 | Cultural | (i) |
| 3 | Sambor Prei Kuk | 2017 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (vi) |
| 4 | Koh Ker | 2023 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) |
| 5 | Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centres of repression to places of peace and reflection | 2025 | Cultural | (vi) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Cambodia
3 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indochina Peninsula | 1.90M km² | Pen/cape | Asia |
| 2 | Central Highlands | 65,512 km² | Range/mtn | Asia |
| 3 | Dângrêk Range | 55,940 km² | Range/mtn | Asia |
Dângrêk Range
Range/mtn · 55,940 km²
Dângrêk Range is a range/mtn in Asia, covering an estimated 55,940 km². It extends across Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
The Dângrêk Mountains (; Khmer: ជួរភ្នំដងរែក, Chuŏr Phnum Dângrêk [cuə pʰnom ɗɑːŋrɛːk]; Thai: ทิวเขาพนมดงรัก, RTGS: Thio Khao Phanom Dongrak [tʰīw kʰǎw pʰānōm dōŋrák], lit. 'Mountain of Carrying stick shape'), also the Dângrêk Range, is a mountain range forming a natural border between Cambodia and Thailand. The dense jungle of Anlong Veng became the final headquarters of the Khmer Rouge of Democratic Kampuchea and Pol Pot is buried there.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Dângrêk Mountains (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Range/mtn
- Mapped extent
- 55,940 km²
- Size rank
- #75 of 216 mountain ranges
- Region
- Asia
- Countries
- Thailand, Cambodia, Laos
- Coordinates
- 14.4595°, 102.5963°
- Summits:
- Phnom Aural (1,813 m)
- Adjacent ranges:
- Arakan Yoma (Asia), Chin Hills (Asia)
- Settlements:
- Siem Reap (100 km), Phnum Tbeng Meanchey (103 km), Sisophon (141 km)
More about Dângrêk Range
Geography
Despite the length of the range, the Dângrêk are a relatively low mountain system, the average elevation of the summits being around 500 m. The highest peak is Phu Khi Suk (Thai: ภูขี้สุข), an inconspicuous 753 metres at the eastern end, in the Chong Bok (603 m) area, where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia intersect. Other summits are Phu Khok Yai (693 m), Phu Chep Thong (692 m), Phu Tangok (689 m), Phalan Sun (670 m), Phanom Ai Nak (638 m), Phanom Thaban (582 m) and 374 m high Khao Banthat (เขาบรรทัด) at the western end.
The northern side of the Dângrêk Mountains is gently sloping, while the sides facing south are usually a steep escarpment that dominates the plain of northern Cambodia.
Geology
The mountains are formed mainly of massive sandstone with slate and silt. A few characteristic basalt hills such as Dong Chan Yai (293 m) and Dong Chan Noi (290 m) are found on the northern side of the mountain chain in Ubon Ratchathani Province.
Ecology
The Dângrêk Mountain range is mostly covered by dry evergreen forest, mixed dipterocarp forest, and deciduous dipterocarp forest. Tree species like Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Shorea siamensis and Xylia xylocarpa var. kerrii dominate. There has been much illegal logging both on the Thai as well as on the Cambodian side, leaving large hill stretches denuded, vulnerable tree species such as Dalbergia cochinchinensis have also been affected. Forest fires are also common in the hills during the dry season.
There is not much wildlife left in the Dângrêk Mountains. Wild hog, deer, barking deer, rabbit, squirrel, gibbon and civet are some of the animals to be found in the areas where there has been no habitat loss due to human encroachment.
History
The Dângrêk Mountains were part of the ancient Khmer Empire, which spread northwards across them, culminating with the almost complete control of the Isan area in 1220 under Jayavarman VII. Among the archaeological remains in the mountain area there are stone carvings on the Pha Mo I-Daeng cliff, ancient stone-cutting quarries, as well as the Sa Trao reservoir. There are also remains of sanctuaries that were built as homes to spirits called phi ton nam ('watershed spirits') in different spots along the border area of the Dângrêk mountain chain. However, the largest and most important archaeological site in these mountains is Preah Vihear, a Shaivite temple compound of the Khmer imperial times dated from the reign of Suryavarman I in a dramatic location on top of a high hill.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Dângrêk Mountains (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Dângrêk Range: Key Facts
| Length | 300 km |
|---|---|
| Highest point | Phu Khi Suk |
Facts from Wikidata Q939398 (CC0).
Countries Bordering Cambodia
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Asia
Cambodia: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Cambodia?
- The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh.
- What is the population of Cambodia?
- Cambodia has a population of about 17.85 million, the #73 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Cambodia?
- Cambodia covers 181,035 km², ranking #91 by area, with about 99 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Cambodia in?
- Cambodia is in Asia.
- Which countries border Cambodia?
- Cambodia shares a land or maritime border with Laos, Thailand, Vietnam.
- What is the largest city in Cambodia?
- Phnom Penh is the largest city in Cambodia, with a metropolitan population of about 1.47 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Cambodia?
- The highest summit recorded for Cambodia in YearMaps is Phnom Aural at 1,813 m (5,948 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
- What is the largest lake in Cambodia?
- The largest lake recorded in or bordering Cambodia is Tonle Sap, at roughly 2,547 km².
- What are the famous wonders and monuments of Cambodia?
- Cambodia's great monuments in YearMaps are Angkor Wat. Each is written up on this page with photographs and its history.