The Floating Village of Tonle Sap

Estimated Reading Time: 1.5 mins
Yes, you read the title right , there is an actual floating village located in the heart of Cambodia, in southeast Asia. Here is the story of the unique lifestyle of its residents. 🙃

A long time ago, the Khmer people- an indigenous tribe of Cambodia settled on the banks of the Tonle Sap river. Here, they figured out that they never had to worry about running out of food and water, as everything was right beside the lake, this led to many communities developing on the side of this lake.

Fast forward to today’s time, and we have schools, shops, houses and even temples built on stilts or floating platforms to allow them to rise and fall with the water level, this is especially crucial since during rainy season, the water increases 6 times.

The economy here mainly thrives on fishing as there are a countless number of exotic fishes found here. This lake also provides a significant portion of Cambodia’s fish supply. Tourism is also plays a huge role here, as many tourists travel from all over the world to see this wonderland.

Despite this, the people of Tonle Sap do face some difficulties. The people do not have access to proper education, healthcare and clean water. Some environmental problems like climate change also affect the livelihood of some people.

Last but not the least, this floating village shows the adaptability and resilience of the common people and their ability to thrive in harmony with their surroundings, this truly shows a remarkable way to balance tradition and the ever-changing world.

Crazy right?