Tonlé Sap Lake

The Tonle Sap is the great lake at the heart of Cambodia. Each rainy season the rising Mekong forces water back up the Tonle Sap River, spreading across the lake's surrounding floodplain and submerged forests. When the floods recede, the river reverses again and the lake drains toward the Mekong. This extraordinary seasonal rhythm nourishes fish and fertile land, sustaining the communities that live around its changing shores.