Rivers in the life of Cambodia play a significant role: these are not only transport arteries connecting parts of the country, it is also a food source (according to statistics, more than 70% of Cambodian protein consumed falls on fish, and agriculture in the country entirely depends on it from rivers - from their drying in the dry period or floods during the rainy season).
It's not for nothing that Nien Kon Hin Horn'ni - the mistress of the rivers - is a very revered deity. Its statues can be seen in almost every settlement and in every Buddhist temple, although in fact it has nothing to do with Buddhism - this deity is much older, even from ancient Khmer mythology.
Mekong
It is the largest waterway in Cambodia; it also ranks 10th among the longest rivers in the world. Mekong originates in the Himalayas, flows through the territory of seven countries and flows into the South China Sea.
The annual catch in the river is 2.5 million tons of fish, and the Mekong has more fish species than any other river on the planet (more than 1000). The largest inhabitants of these waters are the seven-striped barbus (its length reaches 5 meters and its weight is 90 kg), giant carp (maximum weight 270 kg), freshwater stingray (maximum weight 450 kg), giant catfish.
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Cong
The Kong River begins in one of the provinces of Central Vietnam and flows also in Cambodia and Laos, being the boundary for the latter two. It flows into San. The length of the river is about 480 kilometers.
San
San (or Xie San) is the left tributary of the Mekong, a border (for 20 kilometers) between Vietnam and Cambodia. Of the 17 thousand square kilometers of its basin, Cambodia accounts for only 6,000 (11,000 for Vietnam). The water in the river is extremely clean, and the banks are covered with white sand, which attracts many tourists. The province of Ratanakiri, through which San flows, occupies a leading place in ecotourism in the country.
Another river flowing through the territory of this province is Sraepok. It falls into the waters of the waterfall Kachang, located on the river Kontung. This waterfall is interesting because it never dries up. It is constantly surrounded by clouds of water dust.
Bassac
Bassac is one of the sleeves of the Mekong Delta. It is considered one of the main rivers of the country. It starts in Phnom Penh (the capital of Cambodia is practically on the site of the "connection" of three rivers - the Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap). Bassac, like other rivers of the Mekong Delta, is famous for its floating markets, which operate from five to eleven in the morning.
Tonle Sap
This river originates in the lake of the same name and flows 112 km into Mekong just north of Phnom Penh. This river is noteworthy that once a year it changes its movement to the opposite: monsoon winds bring the rainy season, the water in the Mekong increases about 4 times and "extra" water rushes into the tributaries. And since the Tonle Sapa channel is not sloping (the river flows along an absolutely flat plain), the river turns back and begins to feed Lake Tonle Sap , the area of which increases: if its area is usually about 2700 km 2 , then during the rainy season it can grow to 10 and even up to 25 thousand km 2 . Significantly, and its depth - about a meter to 9. That's why on Tonle Sap all the houses are on piles.
To this event is timed the Festival of Water Bon Om Tuk. It takes place annually in the November full moon - the day when Tonle Sap turns back. These few days, while the Festival is taking place, the country is a weekend. The main celebrations are held in Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat. By the way, despite the fact that the name "Tonle Sap" is translated as "big fresh water", the water in the river is rather turbid.
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Koh Po
This river flows through the province of Koh Kong. It surprises with its stone channel - as if the bottom consists not of individual stones, but of a solid slab in which there are faults and holes. On the river there are very beautiful waterfalls with crystal clear water, but to come to admire them better not in the dry season. Although even at the end of May the largest of them, Tatai, looks impressive. And in the rainy season, its water threshold may exceed 30 meters! The second largest waterfall, Koh Poi, is characterized by very beautiful surroundings.
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