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Cambodia, a country in Southeast Asia in the southern
part of Indochina, covers an area of 181,035 square
kilometers and has a population of 13,124764 million
(2003 est.). The country's shape is an almost-square
polygon, with Kampong Thom Province as its central
point.
The country extends 440 kilometers from north to south
and 560 kilometers from west to east. This shape makes
Cambodia easy for tourists to navigate and poses no
difficulties for the development of tourism.
Among the 10 member countries of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Cambodia ranks eight in
land size and seventh in population. Its geographical
location makes Cambodia an easily accessible ecotourism
destination for travelers in neighboring countries and
other parts of the world. |
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The country is situated
gegraphically beween the 10th and 15th parallels north
latitude and the 102th and 108th parallels east latitude.
Boundaries of the Country
The borders of Cambodia encompass 2,600 kilometers of which
five-sizths are land and one-sixth is costal border.
Land Boundaries [
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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 Vietnam, and on the
west and northwest by the Kingom of Thialand.
Coastal Boundary
The coastal boundary of Cambodia is 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 also good for touism.
Topography of Land
Cambodia's land surface is deep and plain at the middle
since it is surrounded by mountain and plateaus. In the
southwest lies the coastal area.
As regards tourism development, Cambodia is classified by
four types of topography:
Plain Area [
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This area covers 25,069 square kilometers. The total
population of the plain area is 5,898,305 or about 51.6
percent of the entire population, and the population density
is 235 persons per square kilometer, according to the 1998
census. This area consists of 63 districts, 700 communes and
6,414 villages. The capital city of Phnom Penh, as well as
Kandal, Kampong Cham, Svay Riend, Prey Veng and Takeo
provinces are located in this area.
The plain area is the most crowded inhabited by many races
of people including Khmer, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham, Thai,
Lao and Westerners. Minority groups including Kuoy and
Steang also live in the Krek and Memut distric in Kompong
Cham province.
Surrounded Great Lake Tonle Sap Area [
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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 districs, 488 communes and 4,041 villages. The area
includes Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey,
Battambang, Pursat, Kampong Chhnang and Oddar Meanchey
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 [
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Cambodia's 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 Sihanoukville,
Kampot and Koh Kong provinces, and Kep city. All lie along
Cambodia's southwestern coast, which is 440 kilometers long.
Sihanoukville is the mid point 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 Sa Och also live here. Most of people living
along the coast have a good life. They earn their living by
farming and fishing.
The 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
vaieties of mangrove.
The total length of the Cambodian coastal area has been
disputed over the year. The generally accepted length is 440
kilometers, although a 1997 survey 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 islands in Cambodia's coastal waters. They
include 23 in Koh Kong province, 2 in Kampot province, 22 in
Sihanoukville and 13 in Kep city.
Plateau and Mountainous Area [
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This area covers 68,061 square kilometers. The total
population of mountainous and plateau region is 1,189,042 or
about 10.3 percent of the country's entire population, and
the population density is 17 persons per square kilometer,
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 addition, there are 18 minority
groups. They include Pnong, Steang, Kraol, Ro Oung, 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 the minority population. |
