Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia that formally goes by the name Kingdom of Cambodia as it is a monarchy. The country has more than 15 million inhabitants and most of these are Khmer and speak the Khmer language which is also known as Cambodian. There are minority groups in the country and they are mainly Vietnamese and Chinese. Cambodia borders Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. The country has a coast towards the Gulf of Thailand which is part of the Pacific Ocean. Most people in Cambodia are Buddhists and this is also the country’s official religion. The capital is called Phnom Penh and this is the largest city, and an important economic and cultural center.
In the country, a constitutional monarchy is practiced where you have a head of state who is elected by an association called the Royal Throne Council.
Geography and climate
Cambodia’s landscape is characterized by low plains surrounded by higher plateaus and low mountains. Here is Lake TonlĂ© Sap and the upper part of the Mekong river delta. The Mekong River flows south through the eastern regions of the country. To the east of the river, there are plains that turn into highlands and a region of forested mountains and high plateaus that stretch into Vietnam and Laos.
According to bridgat.com, the climate can be described as tropical and the country is often hit by monsoons. The weather is often hot and humid with average temperatures of around 27 degrees Celsius. Cambodia has two seasons, the rainy season and the dry season. The dry season can be divided into two parts where one is cold and the other warm. The rainy season is between June and October, while the dry season is between November and May, of which the last three months are the warmest.
Animals and nature
In Cambodia, there is a great variety of plants and animals. The country is estimated to have 212 different mammals, 536 bird species, 240 reptile animals, 840 freshwater fish species and 435 marine fish species. Many of the animals, and especially the freshwater fish, are found in Tonle Sap lake and its surroundings. The country also has forests in provinces such as Mondolkiri and Ratanakiri and national parks have been created to protect wildlife.
The deforestation in Cambodia is a problem and a major threat to the forest that still remains is the illegal deforestation that is still ongoing. It is not just the domestic situation that threatens the unique ecosystems that exist in the country. Laos’ plans to extract hydropower could lead to problems with fish shortages in both Cambodia and Vietnam, as dams further up the Mekong River could reduce the fish stocks now available. Lake Tonle Sap is dependent on the waters of the Mekong to be able to re-emerge each year after the drought and once again supply the country with fish.