![]() ![]() The villagers have cleverly adapted to the ever-changing water levels as a way of life. In fact, Tonle Sap has been inscribed as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997. This hydrological cycle has brought an abundance of sediments to the lake and evolved into a rich ecosystem. However, during the dry season, the lake shrinks and the water level drops several meters to as low as 1m in depth. This is almost the size of the state of Connecticut! The swelling is caused by heavy rainfall and water overflowing from the mighty Mekong River to Tonle Sap via a connection between the two water bodies. During the monsoon season, the lake swells up to three times its size, which can be as big as 12,000km2. Tonle Sap Lake is actually a floodplain that expands and contracts twice a year. In the case of Cambodia, three million people live around the dumbbell-shaped Tonle Sap Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia. Their presence can be explained by the existence of large rivers and lakes that support the livelihoods of the people who resides along those water bodies. Floating markets can be found in many Asian countries, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and India. ![]()
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