Tonle Sap Lake
"A woman fishing on the Tonlé Sap lake (Cambodia)" — Photo by HansenHimself / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0
A lake that breathes with the rhythm of the year.
This incredible Southeast Asian lake is a marvel of nature's engineering, dramatically changing its size with the monsoon seasons. Its unique ebb and flow supports a vibrant ecosystem and fascinating communities. Overall, 225 bird species live within Tonle Sap, of which 17 are endangered worldwide.
Did you know?
Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, but its size can expand by up to four times during the wet season!
I'm a watery chameleon, changing my size dramatically with the seasons, when I am big...I am very big.
My 'legs' are actually rivers that help me swell and shrink.
I'm often called the 'heart' of a Southeast Asian nation, though I'm not the capital.
Ancient temples peek out from my shores when I'm feeling a bit shy.
Fish are my lifeblood, supporting a huge population in floating villages.