A combined lake and river system, Tonle Sap river becomes the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, during the monsoon. In 1997 it was designated as a UNESCO biosphere. The river changes its flow direction twice a year and the lake itself expands and shrinks dramatically between the dry and wet season.
Tonle Sap is one of the most productive inland fisheries in the world, the fish caught here supporting over three million people.
During the wet season, Tonle Sap Lake has a surface of 12,000 square kilometers, shrinking to 2500 square kilometers in the dry season.
One of the most endangered species in the world is found here, the Mekong's giant catfish. It’s the world's largest freshwater fish. A mature catfish can reach an average of 300 kilograms.
Tourists who want to experience the lake can take a boat tour, lasting around five hours. Be aware that this tour is only for real travelers, as the boats are often crowded and uncomfortable.
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A combined lake and river system, Tonle Sap river becomes the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, during the monsoon. In 1997 it was designated as a UNESCO biosphere. The river changes its flow direction twice a year and the lake itself expands and shrinks dramatically between the dry and wet season.
Tonle Sap is one of the most productive inland fisheries in the world, the fish caught here supporting over three million people.
During the wet season, Tonle Sap Lake has a surface of 12,000 square kilometers, shrinking to 2500 square kilometers in the dry season.
One of the most endangered species in the world is found here, the Mekong's giant catfish. It’s the world's largest freshwater fish. A mature catfish can reach an average of 300 kilograms.
Tourists who want to experience the lake can take a boat tour, lasting around five hours. Be aware that this tour is only for real travelers, as the boats are often crowded and uncomfortable.
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
Allie_Caulfield, Dennis Jarvis, laihiuyeung ryanne, NYC-MetroCard, Dmitry Teslya
Some photos courtesy of:
. The photos provided by Flickr are under the copyright of their owners.
This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at
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This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at
View full credits