Trip to the Largest Freshwater in Southeast Asia

Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and basin is a natural phenomenon. It is an ecological hot spot that was designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997. But more commonly translated as "Great Lake") is a combined Lake and River System of major importance to Cambodia. There are five provinces are around Tonle Sap Lake such as Siem Reap, Kapong Thom (If we travel from Phnom Penh we will pass the town and having lunch there) Kampong Chhaing, Pursat, Battambang Province. In Siem Reap If you stay long time then you can to visit Tonle Sap Lake is available to arrange by the tour or private by using the tuktuk. Tonle Sap Lake is home to many ethnic Vietnamese and numerous Cham communities, living in floating villages around the lake in each province.

The Tonle Sap is unusual for two reasons: its flow changes direction twice a year and the portion that forms the lake expand and shrinks dramatically with the seasons. From November to May, Cambodia's dry season, the Tonle Sap drains into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. However, when the year's heavy rains begin in June, the Tonle Sap backs up to form an enormous lake. The Tonle Sap Lake is linked to the sea via the Tonle Sap River, which converges with the massive Mekong River in Phnom Penh. At the start of the dry season, the Mekong River water levels drop, returning the Tonle Sap River flow to its usual seaward direction, exposing the muddy lake plain. May to October is wet season in Cambodia, bringing 75% of Cambodia’s rainfall. Dry season is from October to April. Along with seasonal expansion and shrinking of the river, the Tonle Sap is also unusual for its biannual flow reversal. The river reaches maximum flow in August and September, when the Mekong River swells massively as it collects melted water from the Himalayas as well as heavy monsoon rains in its upstream drainage basin which spans five countries. Converging with the Tonle Sap in the Cambodian capital, the volume surge reverses much of the flow back up into the Tonle Sap floodplain. For most of the years the lake is fairly small—around one meter deep and with an area of 2,700 square kilometers (1,000 sq mi). When water is pushed up from the Mekong into the lake, it increases its area to approximately 16,000 square kilometers (6,200 sq mi), with a depth of nine meters. This expansion floods the nearby fields and forests, providing a great breeding ground for fish. When the Tonle Sap is floods, the surrounding areas become a prime breeding ground for fish. During this time, fishermen are scarce a fishing during this time is actually illegal, as to prevent disruption of mating. At the end of the rainy season, when the water levels go down, fishing is allowed again. Fisherman installs floating houses along one half of the river, and the other half is left open for navigation.

The lake occupies a depression created due to the geological stress induced by the collision of the Indian Subcontinent with Asia.  In recent years, there have been concerned from scientists about the building of high dams and other changed hydrological parameters in Southern China and Laos that has threatened the strength and volume of the reverse flow into Tonle Sap, which in turn decreases nesting, breeding, spawning, and feeding habitats in floodplain, which results in adverse impacts on fish productivity and overall biodiversity.

In addition, the Tonle Sap is home to at least 149 species of fish, eleven globally threatened species, and six near-threatened species. These species include the Spot-billed Pelican, Greater Adjutant, Bengal Florican, Darter, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, and the Manchurian Reed Warbler. Specifically, the large colonies of unique birds constitute the Preak Toal Bird sanctuary.

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