Volume 1 Issue 14
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER
“You’re going to reach the top with us.” 15 May 2004
Life on the Tonle Sap T
onle Sap lake, which means "freshwater lake" in Khmer, is also known as the "Great Lake." It lies in the center of Cambodia and is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. According to the French scholar Carbonnel (1963), it was formed some 5-6,000 years ago. The lake's surface area quadruples from 2700 km2 in the dry season to more than 12,000 km2 in the rainy season. At this size, it accounts for 7% of the total area of Cambodia. The water's depth ranges from 1-2m to 8-10m with the seasons, while the average water temperature is 28 degrees celcius. More importantly, the Tonle Sap is the richest freshwater fishing ground in the world. The lake also has a ver y important symbolic value for the Cambodian people and fully illustrates the richness of the Khmer natural heritage.
ZAMAN NEWSPAPER Zaman, Publisher Zulfi Erken, Editor -in-Chief Murat Tutumlu, Editor at Large Oum Vantharith, writer Malik Ates, writer Zaman International School Newspaper dedicated to educating students and training journalists. Published 2 times a month in Zaman International School. Copyright 2003 by the Zaman International School. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced in print or electronically without the consent of The Zaman International School.
Tonle Sap is unique in the world. To n l e S a p l a ke i s u n u s u a l because it shrinks and expands dramatically with the seasons. First of all, the lake is connected to the Mekong river through the Tonle Sap river. The rivers meet in Phnom Penh at a point known as Chakto Muk or
"Four Arms." Each year in June, when the rains begin and the Mekong is swollen by melting snow in the Himalayas, the water level at Chakto Muk rises more rapidly than the Tonle Sap river. This makes the latter reverse direction (going south-north instead of north-south) and it flows back into Tonle Sap lake, taking with it the extra water from the Mekong. As a result, the lake gets four times bigger! In November, when the rains e a s e, t h e To n l e S a p r i v e r changes direction again to flow out of the lake and
gradually empty it.
return to the sea.
This unique phenomenon creates exceptional flora and fauna. Fishing and agriculture benefit greatly. This makes Tonle Sap a source of fertility and abundance…that is to say a source of lives. The reversal of the Tonle Sap
Tonle Sap lake is the richest freshwater fishing ground in the world. More than 200 fish species have been identified, of which 80 are regularly fished. The seasonal flooding of the land has created this abundance: the fish have evolved over thousands of years and adapted their life cycle to the rhythm of the waters. The flooded forest provides a habitat and an important feeding ground.
river's flow is celebrated with one of the most joyous festivals i n C a m b o d i a : t h e Wa t e r Festival. For three days in N o v e m b e r, h u n d r e d s o f longboats compete on the river. Millions of spectators and street vendors go to Phnom Pen for this special event. At night there are fireworks d i s p l a y s, a n d i l l u m i n a t e d flotillas on the river. The festival coincides with the full moon of the Buddhist month of Kadeuk. On this night, people give thanks to the moon. Nagas, the mythical water serpents, are also thanked for fertilizing the land and are set free to
Two main categories of fish can be identified. "White" fish account for 60% of the total and comprise white or silver y fish. Most of them are longdistance migrator y species: they breed in the Mekong river during the dry season and migrate annually into the lake with the rising water. On the other hand, "black" or dark-colored fish are species which live in the lake year-round and can survive in adverse conditions. A few decades ago, the lake was still home to many crocodiles, turtles and water snakes. The area still holds globally-important species, but in much smaller numbers. Don't be scared of swimming in the lake, because wild crocodiles are getting more and more rare! Most are now actually raised in farms on and Continued page 2