On the territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia, which is located between Thailand and Vietnam, you can find comfortable hotels of international class, unique temples of antiquity and national parks. One of the most popular and interesting tourist routes is Tonle Sap Lake. Read the article about this reservoir, which is located in the heart of Cambodia.
Description
Where is Tonle Sap Lake, or Big Lake? This body of water is located in Southeast Asia. The lake is interesting from a geographical point of view in that it constantly changes its size. Since it is inconvenient for local residents to constantly rebuild their homes, they solved this problem in a very unusual way.
They place buildings on the water. As a foundation, they use various floating means, such as rafts and boats. As for the water, it is very dirty here, because all the waste is in it. She's dyed a nasty yellow-greencolor.
Sizes
Tonle Sap Lake is a fairly large body of water. However, its size varies depending on the precipitation in the form of rain. During periods of drought, its area is slightly less than 3000 square meters, namely 2700. However, when the rainy season begins, the Tonle Sap River overflows the reservoir, while its course changes by 180 degrees. The lake borders are expanding, its area is increasing to 16000 m2. The water level rises so much that the lake floods the fields and forests in the area. After the old borders are returned, silt remains in the district. It is used to grow rice, which is very popular in Cambodia.
Population
The inhabitants of Tonle Sap Lake build their houses on the water, setting them on pontoons. Because of this, they do not pay land taxes. Interestingly, the Cambodian Tax Code fits on eight A4 pages.
Venice on the lake has only two million inhabitants. The basis of the population (60%) are illegal Vietnamese. They are forbidden to settle on land, so they live in floating villages. The remaining 40% of the population are Khmers. Every family has a boat. It not only serves as a means of transportation, but also allows the owners to fish.
Infrastructure
Tonle Sap Lake is the location of the floating village. It has all the infrastructure necessary for a comfortable stay, such as: the administration building, a school, a kindergarten, a sports hall, a market, as well as a boat repair service. In the thickets near the shore you can find a local cemetery.
Of course, the buildings do not look like five-star hotels. They are more like well-groomed sheds. They are most often woven from leaves and sticks. They do not fall apart because hurricanes and cold are not typical for this area of Cambodia.
Residents are absolutely satisfied with their homes. They spend most of their time relaxing in a hammock on the water. During dry seasons, pets are kept in front of each house. In addition, next to many houses there are small gardens where vegetables are grown.
The junkyard at the floating village on Tonle Sap Lake is completely disorganized. Garbage is thrown into the water, subsequently it is eaten. This is where bathing takes place. The need is relieved in the same water.
Residents move around the lake in boats, some children get to school by swimming in basins. All people work. Their main occupation is fishing. The local ichthyofauna is very rich. Women do the same work as men.
Attractions
You can say that this body of water is one big attraction. Lake Tonle Sap (Cambodia), reviews of which can be both positive and negative (about water quality), is a fairly popular tourist destination. Buildings that float freely on water attract tourists.
The main attraction of the floating village is a Buddhist temple. This is the only building madefrom stone. It is located on high piles that protect the temple from flooding.
Interesting facts
Tonle Sap is a very popular tourist destination. It should be visited for several reasons. First, it is the largest lake in Southeast Asia. Secondly, contrary to the expectations of travelers, the floating village is not cut off from the outside world. We althy homes have televisions and even Internet connections. In addition, almost all buildings have electricity powered by generators.
Legends
Because of its large size during the rainy season, the lake was nicknamed the "Cambodian Sea". Since this place is considered exotic, there are several legends about it. Locals are convinced that a terrible water serpent lives in it. This mythical animal lizard, or dragon, is very dangerous. He is as real as the sun in the sky.
According to an ancient Khmer legend, Light and Dark represent the forces of good and evil, respectively. There is a constant struggle between them. During the battle, the god Indra destroyed many demons with the help of lightning. Those creatures that managed to survive fell to the ground and changed their appearance, turning into reptiles. They hid from God in inaccessible places, one of which was Lake Tonle Sap. Demons still live here, leaving the bottom only after sunset.
There is another legend. A long time ago there was a master in Cambodia. He possessed many talents, everyone around admired his knowledge. A young man named Dust Pisnokar had to carry out an important mission, andnamely, to build the temple of Angkor Wat. The young man wielded a sword that made him invisible in battle. When the sword began to lose its properties, the young man threw it into the lake. He did this so that no one could take advantage of him. Since then, the keepers have settled on the lake. That's why people live on Tonle Sap Lake: they have an important mission to protect the sword.
Tours
Lake Tonle Sap (Cambodia) is located at a distance of 15 kilometers from Siemreal. To visit this reservoir, you can book an excursion at one of the local travel agencies. The cost of any of them will be about 19 dollars. You will get to the lake by bus, and after that you will have to transfer to the boat. During the tour you will be transported by boat through the territory of the floating village, you will have the opportunity to walk around its "land". You will visit a floating crocodile and fish farm. Of course, crocodiles don't swim in the lake. They are kept separately. In addition, you can take part in a tour not only of the floating village, but of Cambodia as a whole. They also include a visit to the lake.
You can come to Tonle Sap on your own. To do this, you need to arrive at the pier nearby and rent a private boat for walking. It will cost about $5. If you choose a branded boat for sightseeing, you will have to pay at least $20. To enter the territory of the floating village, you need to pay 1 dollar.
