ABOUT CAMBODIA

·      Boundaries of Cambodia

The boundaries of Cambodia encompass 2,600 kilometers of which five-sixths are land and one-sixth is costal border.

-   Land Boundaries

The Kingdom Of Cambodia is bounded on the northeast by the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos, on the east and southeast by the Socialist Republic of Vietname, and on the west and northwest by the Kingdom of Thailand.

-   Coastal Boundary

The Coastal boundary of Cambodia is bounded 440 kilometers with medium depth tropical sea, rich in aquatic creatures that are good for aquatic business. In addition, there are beautiful, uninhabited islands, virgin beaches, white sand and fresh air, which are good for tourism.

·         Topography of Land

Cambodia’s land surface is deep and plain at the middle since it is surrounded by mountains and plateaus. In the southwest lies the coastal area.

As regards tourism development, Cambodia is classified by four types of topography:

-  Plain Area

This area covers 25,069 square kilometers. The total population of plain area is 5,898,305 or about 51.6 percent of entire population, and the population density is 235 persons per square kilometer, according to the 1998 census. This area consists of 63 districts, 700communes and 6,414 villages. The capital city of Phnom Penh, as well as Kandal, Kampong Cham, Svay Rieng, Prey Veng and Takeo provinces are located in this area.

-  Surrounded Great Lake Tonle Sap Area

This area covers 67,668 square kilometers. The total population of the surrounding Great Lake Tonle Sap area is 3,505,448 or about 30.7 percent of the entire population of Cambodia, and the population density is 57 persons per square kilometer, according to the 1998 census, it consists of 60 districts, 488 communes and 4,041 villages. The area includes Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pursat, Kampong Chnang and Orddar Meanchay provinces and Pailin city.

The surrounding Tonle Sap area is inhabited by many races of people, including Khmer, Chinese, Vietnamese and Cham. In addition, there are a number of minority hill tribes such as Sa Och, Steang and Samre, who inhabit the mountainous area.

-  Coastal Area

Cambodia coastal area covers 17,237 square kilometers. The total population living in the coastal area is about 845,000 people or about 49 persons per square kilometer, according to the 1998 census. It consists of 21 districts, 152 communes and 705 villages. The area includes Sihanouk ville, Kampot and Koh Kong provinces and Kep city. All lie along Cambodia’s southwestern coast, which is 440 kilometers long. Sihanouk ville is the midpoint of the coastal area. It is 232 kilometers from Phnom Penh.

About 80 percent of the population of the coastal area is Khmer, although Cham, Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai and ethnic minorities such as Sa Och also live here. Most of people living along the coast have a good life. They earn their living by farming and fishing.

Topography of Cambodia’s coastal area is mountainous, plateau, plain coast, seaside and gulf. There is much sand in this area. Palm oil, rubber, coconuts, pepper, durian and other crops can be grown in this area. It is also rich in varieties of mangroves.

The total length of the Cambodian coastal area has been disputed over the years. The generally accepted length is 440 kilometers, although a 1997survey by the DANIDA organization set the length at 435 kilometers, while the Oil Authority in 1973 determined the coast to be 450 kilometers long. In Cambodian schools, however, the 440 kilometer figure is used.

Cambodia’s gulf, which divides the Country from the Malacca subcontinent, is not very deep, averaging only 50 meters. The maximum depth is 81 meters. The bottom is plain.

There are 60 island in Cambodia’s coastal waters, They included 23 in Koh Kong province, 2 in Kampot, 22 in Sihounkville and 13 in Kep city.

-  Plateau and Mountainous Area

This area covers 68,061 square kilometers. The total population of mountainous and plateau region is 1,189,042 or about10.3 percent of the country’s entire population, and the population density is 17 persons per square kilometers according to the 1998 census. It consists of 39 districts, 283 communes and 2,246 villages. The area includes Kampong Speu, Kratie, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, Rattanakiri, and Mondulkiri provinces.

The mountainous and plateau region is inhabited by many races of people, including Khmer, Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian, and Thai. In additional, there are 18 minority groups. They include Pnong, Steang, Kraol, Ro Oug, Tumpun, Tmuon, Bruv, Smil, Kuoy, Ar Norng, Charay, Kreung, Roder, Kha, Sa Och, Kachok, Kavet and Lun. Of these minority groups, the Pnong are the largest, comprising about 45 percent of minority population.