What Is The Landscape of Cambodia Like?
Cambodia's landscape is characterized by a low-lying central alluvial plain surrounded by uplands and low mountains. The country's most distinctive geographic features are the Tonle Sap (Great Lake) and the Mekong River, which bisects the nation on its way to the sea.
The central plains account for about 46% of Cambodia's territory, with plateaus and mountains making up the remainder. The Tonle Sap lake is remarkable for its seasonal transformation—measuring about 2,590 square kilometers during the dry season but expanding to approximately 24,605 square kilometers during the rainy season when the Mekong's waters reverse flow into the lake.
Phnom Aural, Cambodia's highest peak, rises to 1,813 meters (5,949 feet) in the Cardamom Mountains to the southwest. The eastern regions feature rugged terrain with dense forests, while the coastline offers sandy beaches and offshore islands. The Mekong River, at 486 kilometers within Cambodia, is the country's longest waterway and has shaped both the landscape and culture for millennia.
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